Pray and Work: Encouragement During Difficult Days of Ministry

I was encouraged recently reading the story of Jehu in 2 Kings 9. Jehu was anointed king over Israel. At first glance, that sounds like a glamorous position, but when we read the entire story we find that before Jehu could rule his kingdom, he had to first battle to do so. (I think King David had a similar difficult experience prior to becoming king.)

I shared in an earlier post about Nehemiah. In Nehemiah 4:9 we read that while Nehemiah prayed asking God to protect the work he was doing, he also did what he knew to do….he posted guards to keep watch over their work.

Those two passages, and others throughout the Bible of men and women who responded to God’s call, remind me that God’s will for my life isn’t simply to wait for Him to deliver me. Often God’s will includes hard days of waiting for His plan to be revealed. The fact that ministry is difficult at times, doesn’t imply that I am not in the center of God’s will for my life. The opposite may be truer.

You may have been anointed for the job you’ve been given, but we should never assume that because God asked us to do the task that completing it will be easy. Part of our calling is often to find the faith to keep moving forward, even when the obstacles seem insurmountable.

If you are in the midst of difficult days in your ministry, keep your eyes on the task…work and pray…and wait for the God who began a good work in you to complete it.

For a similar encouragement read THIS POST.

Have you been tempted to give up lately? Leave me a comment so others can pray for you.