What is it like ministering to people? How does it feel? What does it take? There are a lot of things that come to mind when talking about evangelizing and ministering to many.
Ministering to people is hard work, it is very emotionally and spiritually draining. When I'm talking to people and hearing their struggles and everything they're going through while being homeless, I feel their emotions and I understand the pain in their heart. When you are able to relate to how someone is feeling you give them a piece of your heart and in return it makes your heart heavy. Another thing that is very difficult with ministering to people is when you are not able to help someone. Realizing that you can’t help every single person is tough because it's in your heart to serve someone, but sometimes we are unable to provide what they need. I have experienced this many times when I'm walking through Phoenix handing out food and water. Everything is great, I'm praying for people and giving them what they need, and then I run out of food and water. Now what? I walk by someone with an empty cooler and when they ask for water I have to say “sorry I've ran out.” It’s heartbreaking. However there is a story in the bible that helped me with this. Luke 19:41-42 says,
(41)But as he(Jesus) came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. (42) “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.
I find this passage of Jesus weeping over the city of Jerusalem very relatable. It's important to understand that Jesus sees all the brokenness and all the sin in the world and wants more than anything for everyone to be saved. However Jesus did not heal all the sick and give sight to all the blind. He did not reveal his Godly presence to everyone in Jerusalem so that they would all know he is the messiah and the son of God. That was not Jesus' purpose, Jesus says his purpose many times throughout the bible.
““The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”(Luke 19:10).
Jesus came to die for everyone's sins who believes in him but humans still have the choice to believe in Jesus or not. If they do they will receive this gift and if not they won’t. Jesus had a specific purpose and although he could have very well saved everyone in an instant it wasn’t his reason for coming to the world. This is similar to how one can feel when they are ministering and they are not able to help someone. But realizing that we all have a purpose and that purpose isn’t to be able to save everyone but to help who we can and who God guides us towards through our works and the spreading of the love that Jesus has shown to us.
So when you are ministering to someone and your heart gets heavy, seek peace through Jesus. He understands the pain you feel for those you know who haven't come to Jesus. He understands the emotions and hurt you feel when you see all the pain, suffering, and lies in this world. He understands you and knows how you feel. I encourage anyone reading this to go out of their comfort zone and bring up Jesus and your faith to someone who isn’t a believer. Whether that's a friend or family member, a coworker, or even a stranger. Tell them about Jesus and plant a seed, because God may use you to change somebody's life.
1 comment
Jack, you continue to inspire Randy and me with every blog post. God clearly has given you His supernatural wisdom at a very young age. This is so well written, and you are abundantly filled with the Holy Spirit. We praise God for His mighty work and discernment through you.
2 Chronicles 1:11 God answered Solomon, “Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked for possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked for long life, but have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people [serve/minister to people in the park] over whom I have made you king [minister], 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like.”