The first several weeks of being Evangelism Director in WNCCOG have been great. Lisa and I have been to four churches to minister, a funeral out of town, the COG Leadership Gathering in Cleveland, and have had about 100 meetings in between. Don’t get me wrong, I love a fast pace and enjoy meeting and seeing people. It has been wonderful seeing lots of my friends and colleagues from across the state. I am really looking forward to State Ministers Meeting in less than two weeks.
I know the rhythm of the madness will become normal soon, and I am up to the challenge until it does. Working for Jesus and His kingdom is a privilege and an honor. But sometimes I stop to take a breath and say, “Whew!”
Don’t come over and stage an intervention. I can handle anything that comes at me, but getting used to a new assignment after pastoring for so long is just a bit of a learning curve. I am learning, and the work is going well. I have a great overseer, a great colleague across the hall, and I get to work in the same building as my sweet wife! The other ladies in the office are wonderful, too.
But this new phase of life and the adjustment reminds me of something: Seasons change and life sometimes throws us a curve ball. New babies excite the family. Death brings sadness and grief. Moving is a big change and upsets the normalcy of everyday life. Reaching puberty or adulthood or retirement all bring transitions that challenge our sense of consistency and comfort. Whatever you are facing now, whether sickness or loss or victory or promotion, it is simply a blissfully wonderful or a sadly draining moment of transition. However, it is just a moment. You may be feeling overwhelmed or elated, but this, too, shall pass.
Psalm 30:5 (NLT)
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
The Psalmist knew what this was like. But he also knew that transitions do not last forever. He goes on to say, “6 When I was prosperous, I said, “Nothing can stop me now!”
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain.
Psalm 30:6–7 (NLT)
Today, give God your trust. When you are overwhelmed, like someone is giving you water from a fire hose, drink as deeply and quickly as possible, knowing that God has a better day ahead. And, on the good days, thank Him vociferously for the goodness of His blessings.
I thank God for all His many blessings given to me. The transition in which I find myself is just a slight bump in the road. I have very rarely suffered in my life. False accusations, the death of my grandparents and my father, and normal family problems have all knocked at my (our) door, but we yet stand in victory every day.
2 Corinthians 4:17–18 (NLT)
17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Hold on, the greater is yet to come. The greatest is on the horizon. Don’t let the fire hose drown you. Show it who’s boss and move on. And when I say “Boss,” I mean the one we all serve: El Shaddai, God Almighty, who is greater than any trial or trouble we face. Through God, We can do valiantly!
