Keep Going No Matter What

​I hear from people all the time who are ready to give up. They are tired. They are frustrated. They feel like they have failed their family, their congregation—and God. Any veteran church leader has experienced discouragement. In fact, some of us have been through several trying seasons. It is not a sin to get discouraged—it happens to all of us. 

Discouragement is a byproduct of spiritual warfare. It also happens when our expectations need to be readjusted. God uses discouragement to draw us closer to him and to refine our ministry. Do not give up! What you are doing is far too important! We are in this battle together! God can still do more than you could ever imagine in your life and through your ministry. If you are ready to give up, consider the following:

Remember how much God loves you. I suspect that you often share about God’s love. If you are feeling discouraged, it is time to “preach it” to yourself. You cannot feel the love of God and feel discouraged at the same time.

Refuse to “fake it.” Typically, this is tough for those of us sharing Jesus. Much of our lives are on display. We buy into the lie that we cannot be real and still be effective in church ministry. This simply is not true. The people in your church are struggling. It gives them hope when they know you are too. Naturally, you need to be wise about what you share. You need to match your integrity with discernment. You may be able to live a double life for a little while, but it will eventually catch up with you.

Take the focus off yourself. Remember that there is more to your life than just you. IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! The more self-focused you become, the more discouraged you will get. Life is bigger than you. Take the focus off your problems, broaden your perspective to include others, and your discouragement will diminish.

Be realistic about your limitations. You are a Christian, not the latest hero in a comic book movie. You cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound. You are a normal person, and you have limits. Unless you have a realistic view of what you can and cannot do, you are headed for regular bouts of discouragement. But there is good news for you—when you learn to be realistic about your limitations, you will be less discouraged.
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• You cannot keep everyone happy.
• You are not going to hit a home run every day.
• You will not successfully manage every conflict.

“That is why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:10 NLT

Take time for renewal. If you want to serve the Lord for the long haul, you need to find ways to recharge. You need to divert daily, withdraw weekly, and abandon annually. You need to do something every day that recharges you—whether it is taking a walk, engaging in a hobby, playing with the kids, or anything else that leaves you with more energy when you are done. 

Make Every Day Count!

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