I'm losing hope...

Q. "I didn’t think I’d ever write in to someone like this to ask for advice. But, I have been in the ministry for six years now, and things just aren’t happening like they should. I am working 50 to 60 hours a week.

Our building is in a bad section of town. I’m not a good looking man, I need to lose probably 50 pounds, at least. My voice isn’t pretty. Our church has been through 4 preachers in the last 10 years. I have been here for a year and a half. We really don’t have much vision anymore, and not much hope. I really feel down in the dumps about all this.

What could you tell me to make me have enough hope to even try?" 

A.  You’re finding out the sad lesson that, college and/or seminary can’t adequately prepare anyone for ministry! Every man and woman of God in leadership has to discover this and wade through it. No one can shortcut you through it. But, here are some principles to make it a little easier:  

1. Doing anything well is hard work. Most people underestimate how incredibly demanding the ministry is. We figure that if we’re sincere, and pray and read our Bibles enough, God will fill our churches with happy, loving and spiritual people. We think it’s primarily God, and underestimate our part. Then we get upset with God when it doesn’t work. 

Many leaders don't make it simply because they don't do enough to bring about the results they desire. They don’t do it consistently or for long enough. It takes consistent, steady determination, prayer, counsel, learning, growing, drive and discipline. If you're not happy about the results in an area of your life or church, work on it every day until you ARE satisfied. Read, study, ask questions, pray and practice. 

2. Turn your handicaps and liabilities into assets. What makes you feel inferior? A reason why people won't want to listen to you? Your age? Your sex? Your skin color? Your looks? Your building? Is that why you think somebody won't want to hear what you've got to say? Fact: People will listen to you if they like you and if they think that what you have to say will interest them. And, they'll get involved in your church if they like you and if they think it's worth the effort that they'll have to make. 

Also, you can maximize your weaknesses, by pointing out that people can sure tell that all the church’s money doesn’t go into the building! It goes right into the ministry and helping people. You can talk about how if God can call an overweight middle aged guy into the ministry, He can do anything! So, let’s have church!  

3. Help people to dream again. Every organization and every person has hopes; dreams and aspirations. Most organizations aren’t realizing their potentials and most people aren't living their dreams. They've whittled their dreams down to match their lackluster lives. But their dreams are still alive and smoldering down in their hearts. You have to rekindle these dreams and fan them into a fire of positive choices and actions.  

Discover what they originally wanted to do with their lives… ask how they got started in the job they're in; how they met their spouse; how'd they end up in their neighborhood, etc. When people share these dreams with you, they're giving you the roadmap to their hearts. Enter into it with them. Be interested and fascinated by their story.  Dream the dream with them and explore the possibilities.  

Encourage them to tell you more. Reassure them. Then talk about those original goals and what they've accomplished so far. You can help them refocus and get excited again… Then offer them the solution: Getting involved deeper in God’s work, praying fervently, seeking the Lord, teaching a class, some level of serving.

Now, If YOU don't totally believe in it, or if it isn't working for YOU yet, you'll never convince them. So, YOU need to seek God until He gives you vision, purpose and a dream, as He did for Joseph! 

4. Find out what people want, and help them to get it. There isn't a person out there who won't pay the price to get what they really want badly. Once they know that God can and will work in their lives, and that as they get out to the meetings and hear a FAITH BUILDING word from the Bible, that what they want can be within reach. Dangle that in front of their face. Help them to see and feel how close they are to getting it.  

Then help them come up with a way for it to happen. “If I offered you $1,000 to bring five people to church this week, where would you get the people? Who would you start with?” 

5. Don't “faith” yourself out. Some leaders are so pumped up in their faith that they're lacking the motivation they need to actually get out there and put their faith to work!  They figure that they can sleep in, then go down and hang around the office for a few hours each day, and talk on the phone and God will build a great ministry through them. 

You need the freedom of feeling the worries and fears that come as a natural result of the need for change. Fact: If you don't have at least a little apprehension and desire to avoid unpleasant situations, you'll never do very much. Joy is the result of acting in faith, not a substitute for action.

If you're comforting yourself and building yourself up without anything to base it on, you'll become addicted to your endorphins and you'll lose the drive to do something about hanging your situation. When you face a problem, instead of trying to talk yourself into feeling good, take action to change the situation instead. 

There’s nothing here that anyone could not do. It takes getting your eyes off your present circumstances and focusing on the Lord and the power of His might, but anyone can do that – just ask of God, who gives to all people liberally and will never upbraid you for asking!

Copyright Steven L. Davis  www.SteveDavis.org