Tired, Old Shoes

The nasty looking shoes in the picture were my husband's before he threw them away yesterday. The shoes are illustrative of the figurative ones that I wore for awhile last week. Tired, old shoes. They are no fun to wear and yet I choose to wear them sometimes.

Such shoes reflect the reality of being involved in full-time Christian ministry. Sisters, I do not want to be negative, but I do want to be real. Ministry can be hard! When one first begins, there is excitement and enthusiasm. The possibilities seem endless. As time continues, the first conflict is encountered. One can feel blind-sided, surprised, and then hurt. After all, you are in the church to serve. How can people be so unkind and unloving?

The answer is simple: the church is made of sinners...redeemed sinners.... but sinners nonetheless. In addition, when you step into full-time ministry you enter the front lines of spiritual warfare. Your marriage is in the crosshairs of the enemy. You will have conflict and trials. This is a given. A common response to such trials is a tendency to withdraw into a "protective" shell. Who wants to be hurt again? So, care is given to avoid any potential occasion or relationship that may lead to pain.

Sometimes it may be necessary to emotionally withdrawal for a time - but not for long. This withdrawal should serve only as a time of spiritual retreat; a time to heal and remind oneself of the Truths of God's Word. Suddenly the Words become real and tangible because they apply to a real-time situation."Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."(Galatians 6:9) What a verse!

Sisters, don't give up! Hold onto the Truth. Get up, dust off your tired, old shoes, and polish them with the Confidence found in God's Word. You do not have to be strong! The Lord God on high is all the Strength you need.

"Praise be to the Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." (Psalm 28: 6 - 7)

Faith-Walking Shoes

"We will stand as children of the promise, We will fix our eyes on Him, our soul's reward,'Til the race is finished and the work is done, We'll walk by faith and not by sight." (From "By Faith" by Keith & Kristyn Getty)

 Next Sunday there will be a new song sung at my local church. I learned of the song from my oldest daughter and once I heard it I forwarded the song to one of the brothers who leads praise. This coming Sunday I will help to lead the congregation in singing this wonderful song entitled "By Faith", written by Keith and Kristyn Getty. In order to fully prepare to introduce the song, I have been listening to it over and over. My son has installed it on his i-pod. Whenever he and I travel anywhere, it is required that we listen to "By Faith" before he can listen to any of his musical choices. The words have become engraved on my mind as well as in my heart - especially the words of the chorus.

In my fervid preparation, I was unaware that God was using the memorization of the song's words to provide loving support for me. The support was needed when a series of recent events went a different way than I had wanted, planned, and expected. When the final event in the unfortunate series occurred, I immediately thought, "I'll walk by faith and not by sight."

How do I walk by faith and not sight? Trust. Confidence. Assurance. I trust that He will fill me with all joy and peace so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans15:13) I am confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.(Phil.1:6) I have the assurance of history. God has spoken in the past and continues to speak through his Son. (Hebrews 1:1-2) My personal history demonstrates these truths to me.

God is at work!!! We cannot always see. It is not always tangible. But it is very real. Let's remember to walk with trust, confidence, and assurance. Let's walk by faith and not by sight.

"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." (Psalm 62:8)