Today’s Word Is MINISTRY

“Your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt.” – Rick Warren

This principle is not just for pastors, but for every believer. The word minister is from the Latin, meaning “servant.” All of us who call ourselves Christians have a ministry. Jesus referred to many types of ministry when he told his parable about “the least of these” …

Then they also will answer, saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Then he will answer them, saying, “Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” (Matthew 25:44-45)

Your own difficulties, problems and hurts of the past often lead to a compassion for others who are experiencing similar hardships. Take a look back and consider how you endured by depending on God through various hard times, and made it through somehow, as a changed, wiser, and better person. This can become your inspiration to minister to and encourage others.

People who are struggling through a hardship or tragedy need to hear several things. First, they may be thinking that they are alone … as if they are the only one who ever had to go through something like this. By sharing your story, you can help them discover that they are not alone and that there is someone who understands. The fact that you have faced a similar situation, or even a heavy problem of any sort, regardless of how you dealt with it, can be a comfort to them.

Also, people need to know that there is “life on the other side.” After the storm has subsided and life settles back down, “can I still go on?” It is easy for folks to think that “life as I know it” is over with! I have had that thought during several tragedies and hardships in my life. But I am here to testify that it wasn’t the end of my dreams after all. Regardless of what I lost, there were new dreams, bigger adventures, and continued blessings which came along.

And finally, people want to know if they will be accepted after life has changed. Will I still have friends? Will I still believe that good things are coming? Will I still be acceptable in God’s sight? Yes, yes, yes, and yes. After a divorce at age 30, I thought my pastoral career was over. I thought I was now “defective” and unusable. But God had other ideas. I was amazed at the support I received to help me through. And I have grown immeasurably through both the acceptance of God, as he repaired my inner hurt, and the ministry of others repeatedly over the years.

Yes, you are a minister. And yes, you have a ministry. Who you are, what you have suffered and endured, and the growth and healing you have received all fit together to equip you for service to someone at their moment of need.

Blessings,

Chaplain Mark