Proverbs 24:10

I read this verse in my devotions last night, and it was certainly needed. It was actually hard to concentrate on the rest of my reading because I kept thinking about that verse and how much it applied to me right now!

"If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small." Prov. 24:10

Perhaps a commentary would contradict the way I applied it personally, but that's okay. I honestly believe the Holy Spirit can use the same verse in different ways for different people. BUT, don't worry, I don't mean that to say that we can change the Bible to mean what we want or to change doctrinal points!

Since we have been home from Slovakia, which will actually be two weeks tonight, we have faced what I would consider to be various forms of adversity. It began the very first day we were home. Jason came home early from church and told me of something that had come up while we were gone. This required that we take over the youth group, which adds another night of ministry, plus more preparation on Jason's part. Then a week ago, one of the families in our church discovered that their adult daughter had died during the night. This was discouraging for both them and us as Jason had offered help to her several times but she never got together with us. We have also come under personal attack by a woman who attends occasionally. She even sent a letter to Jason this week that was quite discouraging. In addition, we have a variety of different church related events happening every Friday night for a month. Because of this, and me working on Monday nights, we only have two nights a week to be home as a family and eat dinner together. This is taking a toll on us, especially me!

At times like this I can see how so many people in ministry become weary in well-doing. This verse in Proverbs was a good reminder for me. If I become discouraged or negative, or even "give up" in my mind, I have small strength. One reason I may have small strength is because I am not using God's wisdom and direction in my life. Our flesh is weak when it comes to doing what is right, so if we are living in the flesh, we will most certainly be ineffective in our service.

Another good reminder for me was something that Jason shared during prayer meeting Wednesday night. In Colossians we are taught how various relationships should be handled. We are told to act in right ways because we are ultimately serving the Lord, not the other person. If we wait for the other person to treat us the right way, it may never happen and a vicious cycle will begin. I must maintain a positive and right spirit at church no matter how some may treat us. Others may not understand the pressures we are under or offer to help lift the burden, but that should not influence my actions.

Can I give you a challenge? Send your pastor and his wife an encouraging note this week. Think of something you can do to lift their spirits. Send an e-mail to a missionary or other full-time Christian worker that you know. Pray for people in ministry (and tell them you are praying!). Satan wants to discourage all of us, but especially those who are leading others. If he can discourage a pastor or pastor's wife, the whole church can be impacted. It is difficult to counsel and encourage others when a person feels the crunch of ministry life.

For all of us, if we faint or get weary in doing right, we need to examine the source of our strength. Is it in ourselves or in the Lord?