Keep Going

Five years ago I came to know Jesus.

I sat, like so many others, in the dark, back-row of the church as unknowingly the words of a Pastor opened my eyes to a God who had been pursuing me my entire life.

Because of a pastor, a calling so many of you have obediently accepted, I was led to the hands of God to be delivered from addiction, self hatred, self pity, hopelessness, gripping fear, confusion, frustration, control, frantic worry and stress.

Because of how God used a pastor 5 years ago, I was able to share the Gospel with my friend for the first time just last week.

My friend left the church years ago after an experience at a church camp (the enemy will use anything). 27 years later his heart began to soften for the first time, and he began reaching out knowing that I had begun to follow Jesus. Every time we talked, he would have a new question and I would do my best to answer; the reason we need a savior, the fall of man, the Holy Spirit and the Trinity. Needless to say, by the end of our conversation I was exhausted.

God continued to work on his heart, until one day he said something that I never expected,

“Lindsay, I lost my house, my boat, my car, and basically everything, but I have never felt so much JOY in my life. I am so glad I lost everything, because if I hadn't I would have missed the whole point in life.”

I was dumbfounded. I was truly shocked. I was in awe of the sovereignty with which God was moving.

As hour after hour passed, I wanted to scream, having no idea what to say next. My frustration boiling up, I would desperately turn to God in need of Him to put words in my mouth. Sometimes I laughed, most of the time I wept, but through it all the most amazing realization was that God was at work and He was choosing to use me.

I had glimpsed for a moment what many of you have chosen to do for a lifetime; I felt the exhaustion of meeting with one person, when every day you meet with so many.

I cannot understand what your day-to-day life must be like.

I don't know the tiring nature of your calling, the miles you must log on your body and spirit, but what I do know with every bit of my being is the incredible impact your faithfulness caries. A pastor who didn't even know me led me to Christ as I sat alone in the back of his church just 5 years ago- a pastor I have never met in person. He will never know the impact his obedience had on my life, and now in my friend’s life.

My message to you is to keep going!

God wants you to live and function from a place of rest even in ministry. Do not get weary; your harvest is more plentiful than you even realize. It goes on and on. You might never even know the impact, but I do, and I am beyond thankful to you!