Misery or Ministry?

I heard a preacher earlier this week ask, "Will you let God turn the misery inside of you into a ministry?"  Great question.  That is the last thing we feel like when we're miserable.  A few days later I listened Michael Hyatt (former CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing) being interviewed about mentoring.  He mentioned that a guy in his mentoring group of eight men shared that he had just gone through bankruptcy.  He was enormously embarrassed.  In this group were men who struggled and also men who were very successful.

Hyatt said as the man spoke, he literally began shaking.  This was a tough thing for him to admit.  Yet, almost instantly the whole group came around him and supported him.   Everyone began telling their own stories of failures.

Over the years, Hyatt said that besides modeling, he's also learned to minister out of weakness.  When he tries to minister out of his strength he says, he might impress people a little bit - but it's not life.  People aren't healed.  He noted that it's the wounds of Jesus that heals us and it's our own wounds and failures that God can use to help heal the hurts of other people.

I have to admit.  As an elder, a leader in the the church, I feel like I need to have it all together -- all the time.   Shhh.  Don't tell anyone.  But I don't.

A couple of great Scripture passages to meditate on from the Apostle Paul are 2 Corinthians 11:30, 12:5 and 12:9-10.

That's the beauty of the new Shoulder to Shoulder Ministry here at CrossPoint.  These people (who were introduced last Sunday) are willing to come along side those hurting and in misery and share whatever burden is being carried.  Perhaps Tom Cairns can elaborate more on this in another post.