Now What...

An interesting thing happened last night...

I found myself empty. Kids in bed and I was open-minded all day, thinking at some point, God would bring something to mind for this #missionsFriday post. And I had absolutely... NOTHING.

Then God shows up.

You don't think Pastors wake up, thinking "how do I do this?
How about missionaries?

Sure, there's also something to do in ministry... but this is burnout.

The activity becomes routine. Not even intentionally. But the repetition gets old.

The repetition gets old faster, when we don't see "results" as we dream, hope and pray that we would like or believed we would experienced. At least on our timeline.

The task at hand becomes overwhelming... like you can't keep up.
The people prove difficult... like you are making an appeal to those with deaf ears.
The support system is weak... finances are depleted & friends are few.
The tools are sparse... you could do so much more if you were better equipped.

I love the saying, and I saw it again the other day...

God doesn't call the qualified. He qualifies the called.

Every morning, I'm reminded I can't do anything in this life on my own. I fumble it up. I screw up. I get frustrated, then make the point of verbalizing it.

Ministry is no different. How much more, for what matters for eternity, must we rely on God for His strength and understanding. For when we do it on our own, upon finding ourselves empty, we arrive at the question: "Now What".

On this #missionsFriday, pray for missionaries, in particular, those feeling empty...of resources, finances, support and energy. Pray God would be their portion and their strength, providing the miraculous as only He can do. Pray the weight and pressure of life and of ministry would be handed over to God. May they approach life with an ease and confidence, knowing God is at work; not having left us to do this on our own, but by the power made available through the Holy Spirit. Pray for a quickening... not in a hurried, figure things out, but an energizing rejuvenation, that God will work all things together for His good. Pray for a renewed perspective to trust Him and continue to be faithful to the good work which they have been called.

Qualified... not because of the individual, but because of the One who makes the calls. May He direct paths and light ways.
For His glory.

- PNC

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