The "Hard Season"

I was young and already hitting barriers. Simply put, things were not going very well for me in ministry. I was frustrated with my work. Two or three situations were especially challenging, and one of them felt overwhelming.

I remember calling my dad and spending quite a while complaining about everything that was happening. After listening patiently, he asked me a simple question:

“Do you have any Bible studies going on?”

Then he followed it with another question that has stayed with me for over 30 years!

“When this problem is gone, what excuse will you use then for not doing what you know you ought to be doing?”

Now, I know that may sound harsh, but that was not Dad’s spirit at all. He loved me deeply. He was simply trying to help me refocus on what mattered most.

I think all of us in ministry need that reminder sometimes. Local ministry can be frustrating. There have always been difficult people, difficult moments, and difficult seasons. There always will be. But our mission has never changed: lead people to Christ.

It is tempting to quit. Tempting to become discouraged. Tempting to lose heart. But one of the best things we can do in hard seasons is exactly what Jesus told us to do in the first place — invest in people and share the gospel.

So let me encourage you this week, regardless of the issues chasing you and the problems burdening you: have a Bible study with someone. Reach out to a soul. Keep planting seeds. Keep serving. Keep loving people.

And whatever you do — don’t quit.