I was thinking about a comment I get all the time about ministry, which is, ‘I don’t know how you do it.’ They’re referring to ministry and dealing with some people that are so difficult on a weekly basis. There is no doubt there are some days I want to walk away from it. But the answer to the question is because I know God can do more than we can ask or imagine.

God can grow a church that was on the brink of closing its doors. God will accomplish everything He wants despite us. Most of all, when God gets hold of someone and they finally commit to a real and deep relationship with Him. When a church really falls in love with Jesus and lays aside all the selfishness that has ruled the church for decades, to instead reach the lost and care for the hurting and those in need.

When they get that Jesus died for them and all the box-checking in the world isn’t going to get us into heaven, but we serve out of love and thankfulness and we want others to know Jesus. When someone comes to the cross in repentance and is baptized.

When one person catches on fire for Christ and goes all in—that is a beautiful thing that makes it all worth it. Yes, it’s tough. Yes, you spend a lot of time with a broken heart and feeling alone. Yes, sometimes you want to quit. Yes, sometimes it takes years and the majority won’t get it. But how amazing it is when God moves.

 

Jeff Curtis is Minister at Oak Grove Christian Church, in Elizabethton, TN.