When Serving is Hard
Welcome Encouragement for Today!!!
It would be easy to fill this post with Bible verse after Bible verse about serving others. We could talk about the honor with have to serve the Lord and His people. I could list the spiritual gifts Paul teaches or even post a spiritual gift inventory. Oh, and we could talk about Jesus’ words, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Yes, I could encourage you to serve others in these ways.
But what if you serve, serve, and serve some more all by yourself? What if you love your neighbor as yourself and never get a thank you? Maybe you have taken a spiritual gifts inventory, are using all your gifts, and are exhausted. Let me encourage you.
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up,” (Galatians 6:9).
Years ago I was in a leadership position in my church. It was my job to plan an event for our women. I can’t tell you how many hours the leadership time and I spent preparing for and advertising the event. Despite all our efforts we had a small number commit to come so our speaker cancelled. I was devastated.
I won’t share all the thoughts and feelings I experienced in those few days because this is a Christian blog and I am a Christian speaker. Needlessly to say I took the lack of response to the event personal.
On the other side of the deal I realize how foolish it was for me to take carry that weight, but honestly, it hurt. In the midst of the pain I received a note of encouragement from a very dear friend. She included the Galatians verse I shared with you. This verse changed my perspective about serving. Serving isn’t about me, the thank yous, or my recognition. Serving is about Jesus. That’s all.
Don’t grow weary doing good. God’s rewards are far greater than any thank you or recognition you could receive here on earth.
Wendy, thank you. EXACTLY what i needed right now!
Thank you for this valuable reminder and encouragement Wendy! I am serving an audience of ONE!
Thank you Wendy for your openness in sharing how you were affected when the ladies did not show up for your well planned event. It is hard to really pour yourself into something and not feel appreciated. The scripture in Galatians 6:9 really helped. It is not about me but about Jesus. We have to be obedient to Him and leave the results to HIM.
Serving others comes in a myriad of ways & often at times we aren’t even looking to serve.
I shared such an opportunity on my FB page last week & b/c it fits right in w/ today’s message, I am sharing it here as well.
“Today’s God job:
Learned this morning that a friend’s cat passed away last night & she didn’t know what to do……W/ finances being tight, she didn’t really want to take D.D. to the vet to be disposed of, but she wasn’t too thrilled w/ her husband’s idea, either–to simply put D.D. in the garbage. Though I understood, I wasn’t very fond of his suggestion, either.
Knowing that neither could dig a grave (neither is strong/well enough to do that), I asked if they’d like me to dig a hole so D.D. could have a proper burial. I don’t know if they were surprised by my offer, but they were very grateful. After surveying the grounds, I dug a plot near a corner in their home, wrapped her up, & gently laid her in. After I carefully filled in the grave, my friend finished it off by placing a ceramic angel on top as a gentle reminder of what a sweet kitty D.D. was.
We just never know when God is going to use us…..or how. Are you prepared? I was & will be forever grateful that I was.”
Thank you Wendy i was feeling so discouraged at work today. I’m in a new position with a lot of changes going on and i am mentally and physically exhausted but, i know God see’s everything and he will carry me through.
I serve the youth in my small church. My helper is a sweet woman that happens to be our pastors wife . Her daughter and mine hit it off from the start. Her daughter has had trouble, mine has grown distant…and my helper has been attacking my daughter at any and every opportunity. Some I’ve witnessed , some my daughter told me about. She says she feels they are just waiting for her to mess up.
I love working with the youth ! Before this church I never taught. God has showed me so much . But I feel I cannot trust the leadership. I have tried to talk to my friend, I told her how sorry I was for what happened to her daughter. I hate to leave the church.. Please help me pray for this situation . I want to do the right thing , not only for Gods purpose, but also my daughter is watching . I want her to know how to handle trouble , in church and among friends…