Exhaustion can claim us all.
This has been a great summer but throughout it there have
been times when I have been exhausted mentally and physically.I dealt with some health issues at the beginning of the summer and some other things that just left me completely exhausted.
As a minister, you can’t go to people about your problems.
You might be able to say, yeah I am struggling, but few people know what you go through.
I have about four people I can go to about my problems and struggles.
Ministry can be a very dark and cold place at times.
I have seen some great ministers that have either lost their jobs or moved away for certain reasons this summer and it take a toll on you.
My heart and prayers goes out to them and it makes me think how hard it can be at times.
I recently had a friend who went to a wedding at a church he used to serve at.
He went back to a church that basically fired him without any particular reason two weeks after he told them they were pregnant with their second child.
I asked him how it went and he told me that he got the coldest shoulder from the minister of that church.
Life can be interesting at times.
There are times we are all exhausted and spent.
I am reading through Acts 21 through a section where Paul is at the end of his mission trip/life.
While at the end of this trip he shares with them, encourages them, warns them, and sheds tears with them and for them.
He shares with them it’s better to give then to receive and ends with verses 37-38 after praying…
“They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.”
Paul shared his heart with the people and on this journey they knew it was the last time they would see him again.
When we grow weary and sad, it can affect our actions.
Through it all, Paul went out on a good note with the people.
How do we want to be remembered?
Paul went through it all: health issues, sad, knowing he was going where he was called and it was a tailspin of emotion as he served God with all of his abilities.
As we grow weary, how do you want to be remembered?
What mark do you want to leave on this world?
Paul is a great reminder to me of working through it all to further the kingdom.
I love reading Paul for this reason.
Even when we are exhausted , there is still light at the end of the tunnel.
There is always something to look forward to in life.
Never forget that.
Have a great day.
