Going into Ministry: How to Endure & Win at Ordinary Life

There are times when life feels like an empty canvas. We know that we are meant for great things, but great things seem too far from reach.

We muck through our monotonous days and try not to sink in their overbearing force. Go to work, study, cook a meal, and/or clean a thousand dirty dishes. We can’t help but wonder if somebody broke into our house and dirtied up twenty spoons for mere fun. How are so many of them dirty?!

Nearly every month I feel the weight of failure. I get so frustrated when I can’t write a blog post quick enough. I desire to do big things, but how can I accomplish such a feat when I can’t even put my thoughts into words?

But every month that the feeling of failure intrudes my peace, God gives me the exact message I need. This month He reminded me that life is not about writing; it’s about Him.

How to Cope with Your Ordinary Life

God has great things in store for us, but sometimes we get so caught up in fantasies that we can’t see the great things we already have.

We have a voice or the art of sign language. We also have a heavenly Father who is everything we need and more.

Ministry is priceless, but it doesn’t have to look like a building or stage. It doesn’t have to look like a fundraiser reaching thousands of dollars; it can look like two dollars given to a struggling single mom. Or maybe it is a Bible verse we recite to a hopeless stranger despite wanting to give up on life ourselves.

Colossians 3:23-24 (NKJV) says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.“

No matter what we do, we should strive to do it heartily. Jesus came to this world to give us an opportunity to live abundantly through His salvation (John 10:10), freed from Satan’s grasp if we choose to be.

Ministry is more stressful than it has to be when we live in fantasies. We could simply open our eyes, sit around with our families and friends for a moment, and attempt one assignment at a time. Even the disciples sat around and ate. Why? Because everybody needs to rest and eat.

Applying that concept to ministry, sometimes the best way to support the broken souls of the world is through food.

What do we do when someone won’t come to church with us? If the church is not a building but the people, we can offer to pay their bill at Golden Corral. They will more than likely accept the offer. A large table is the perfect place to start answering doubts and false beliefs about Christianity through the way we act and speak.

Life does not need to be sensational to serve Jesus and lead others to Him. We merely need to be breathing. God calls us to be a light unto the world, not the grandest light the world has ever seen.

God is the grandest light. All He asks us to do is follow His footsteps, imitating Him. An imitation will never shine as bright as the original thing. It is not meant to shine as bright; it is meant to point to where the light is coming from.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NKJV)

When we have a heart in pursuit of good works for the Lord, we are going to shine. The light inside of us is to be a beckon for God’s prodigal sons and daughters.

How to Accept Your Assignment with Thanksgiving

By the act of obedience in the little things, we can spur others in the right direction. Henceforth, shine a light toward the Creator.

We all have different assignments. These assignments might change throughout the seasons of life, but one defining factor about them remains… Not one of them is greater than another.

Fumbling to hold onto our jobs, but standing strong in our faith is a powerful example to the children in our homes.

Speaking up when the time is right and staying quiet when it’s not is an act of honor.

Raising children (whether biological or nonbiological) to follow Jesus is a priceless assignment.

Inviting people to our homes or gathering in a local park to carry the burdens of one another is something worthy of recognition.

Writing a book for millions or writing an encouraging note to stick to an undervalued kid’s locker is a great feat.

There is an assignment for everyone. Sometimes it’s better to focus on the current assignment rather than worrying about the assignments to come. When we get caught up in what we would rather be doing, we forget the importance of what we’re doing right now.

There will be times when we are anxious, but we must recognize that anxiousness is a sign that we care about what we are doing for this world. However, we must also recognize that we are not benefiting the world by being ungrateful for the little tasks at hand.

Sometimes little tasks amount to much more than meets the eye. We can’t always see the rest of the story that we helped write upon someone’s life. We must simply rest assured that God used us somewhere in their story in a significant way.

How do we know this? Because there is a light that cannot be hidden. It may not seem significant in the stranger’s eyes—they may not even know we did anything—but our obedience is always significant in the eyes of Jesus.

Conclusion

Life does not have to be sensational to serve Jesus. There are going to be seasons where we are a hot mess and freaking out about what’s next.

Thankfully, the work of ministry is not about standing on stages or speaking in places that have lost their freedom of religion.

Stages are one way to minister to people, but there are many other ways to do the same thing. Praying with a stranger is just as sensational as praying with a multitude.

If we think that ministry is about speaking on stages, we are wrong. It’s about the God who led us to stand on that stage. It’s about the God who proclaims light in us despite our sinful nature. We are living proof of His amazing salvation! Nothing about that is dull or boring.