See, I am doing a new thing! Isaiah 43:19
Changes…
I talk to people every week who are struggling in their current ministry assignment. Sometimes ministry produces a mindset that what you are doing now you should always be doing or that you are somehow less than holy if you are considering other opportunities. I don’t know that that feeling can always be supported Scripturally.
God never promised everything would be the same in our lives. Only He promises to be the same yesterday, today and forever. In fact, God seems to like change in my life as I follow Him. Consider the amount of movement in the Israelites. Their lives were full of change. Think about the Apostle Paul’s ministry. He seemed to experience a great deal of change. If you are experiencing burnout, frustration, and even a little restlessness, sometimes that could be God be preparing your heart for something else.
Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying (I’m confident someone will misunderstand this post even as I type this sentence), God may leave you in your current position for many more years. If so, serve with all your heart and be faithful to your calling. Also know that every time you experience frustration or burnout is not an indication that God is doing something new in your life. There could be many reasons for those emotions, but equally true, don’t be surprised if God has something new on the horizon and you are experiencing the early stirrings of that next opportunity. One thing is certain, whatever He has for you He will want you to have to walk by faith and He may be preparing you for a greater opportunity to express your faith. Be willing to allow Him to stretch you for something new if that’s His desire.
Ask yourself this question:
Do I expect to be here five years from now? A year from now?
If the answer is no, perhaps God is already stirring your heart today…maybe that’s why you are restless in your current position…Perhaps it’s not a problem with everyone around you or even the place where you are…it’s the energy of God doing something new… Be patient, keep your ears and eyes open, and wait for what He wants to do next. (Read Isaiah 30:20-21)
If you need it, read my previous posts 8 Ways to Know it’s Time to Quit and Discerning a Change in Ministry assignment. If God is up to something…it will be good.
Does anything here resonate with you? I’d love to hear from you.
Wow Ron,thanks for this site! I randomly came upon it as I was praying asking God if He would have me move on from my job. Ive been working with kids in the inner city for over 10 years…beautiful,amazingly strong children battling so much poverty,anger,violence,& abuse.Its the wierdest thing…I seriously see how God has given me His eyes of love for them.The spirit of anger all around me is so heavy,Gods been showing me how I have to be so dependent on Him every day.,,.it really feels like Im in military training!Been able to lead some children to Christ and also expose unfair treatment to children,but Im emotionally exhausted.Its plain to see how Gods been making me stronger,but its like the emotional energy required to serve in very dark places is only possible through His energy working through me.I go in and out of that mental and emotional exhaustion.Im a counselor and art therapist so hear very heavy issues every day. Some days its so heavy I think I might break.Gods def been changing me through this time and yet has been giving me ideas,dreams,& excitement to start something new still serving kids but in a different context.I wonder when I move on and create a new thing or stay and faithfully serve.Dont have a clear answer yet.
Praying,
Jessica
I'm praying for you. In my experience we sometimes have to jump before we have full clarity. I'm praying you know when to jump.
Thanks for this post!!
Sometimes the new thing that God has for us in ministry is found within the borders of our current ministry. A new initiative…an added responsibility…a new idea…even a new heart within the minister.
Sometimes we want to move into a new ministry when God ain't through using us in the current one.
I totally agree Sherman and almost put that in the post, but I felt I was doing so much of a disclaimer that I left it out. I talk to many pastors who feel they cannot leave their current ministry because they will hurt it or that God can't replace them, even though God is stirring their heart, so that's the angle I took, but you are exactly right. Sometimes God isn't finished with us in our current place, but there's a no role to fill. Thanks