KINGdom Encounters: Feeling Fabulous Friday: Moving on with Joy

Ministry and life can be extremely draining, both physically, mentally and emotionally. Especially if you really don't have a large support team of family and friends nearby. In many ways, we feel like we are on an island. We sometimes feel like foreign missionaries alone on the field. It is a struggle to keep our joy in those circumstances. But in the struggle, there are often moments that quietly speak joy to our hearts. We treasure those moments and hold on to them with all our might!

A few weeks ago, amidst the stress of preparing to lead our congregation in worship, I received a text from my brother, who lives about an hour & a half away. He said that he was planning to bring his girlfriend up to Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountain National Park. He knows that we love the national park, so he asked if we wanted to go as well. There were a million things on our mind that we needed to do on a Sunday afternoon, both personal and ministry related things. However, we realized that we don't get to see any of my family very often, and we needed some Sabbath rest. So, we decided to take my brother up on his offer, and he stopped at our church after the morning service & picked us up for the trip.

Photo by my brother's wonderful girlfriend Michelle.

Photo by my brother. Credit

I had forgotten how much I missed spontaneous trips. What joy it used to bring me to break away from the demands of this life and go somewhere with no other purpose than to enjoy God's creation and fellowship with Him along with friends and family. I took so much joy from this little trip of ours. It was such a blessing just watching the face of my brother's girlfriend when she saw a creature or flower. Her pure joy and excitement reminded me of something I had lost...the ability to push past the demands of "religion" and "religious" people to enjoy a God who loves me and gives abundant life. He created a world full of beauty so that He would be glorified and we could enjoy the beauty of His glorious creation.

Photo by Michelle. Credit

On this trip, we stopped into one of the old, one room church buildings in the Cove. My brother broke out his guitar and we began to sing praises. We sang songs that were both old and new. People stopped in to listen and sing along. We sat there worshiping for nearly an hour...sweat pouring down our faces and praises pouring from our lips. It was good...we were FREE!

Photo by Michelle.

That trip and a service that we attended the same weekend was the beginning of a new phase in my life. I have felt a deep change. The Lord has told me to move on with joy! I struggled for a week or so with what that looked like, but I know for sure that the Lord wants me to go on in my current circumstances, but instead of feeling trapped and standing still, He wants me to move forward. If others don't follow, than so be it, but I WILL MOVE FORWARD in FREEDOM and with JOY.

You see, I had made an idol of what others thought of me. I had made an idol of what others expected from me. I had let people steal my joy away from me, and I had let Satan keep me from forward progress in my life. A chat with my dear friend from Ireland this week revealed this to me. She simply reminded me that we serve the Lord. It was so simple, but it just spoke to me in that moment. I evaluated my efforts in ministry for the last few months, and I realized that I had been trying to soothe a group of people who don't want forward progress because it is uncomfortable. I have been serving people who are stalled in their faith, but I realize now that if I just get back to serving the Lord and moving forward with my life and my spiritual walk, then the Lord will move... and people will either be moved by the Spirit or stay where they are. That is not up to me. That is not a burden I must bear.

Psalm 16: 4-11 says:

The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;

their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out

or take their names on my lips.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;

you hold my lot.

The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

I bless the Lord who gives me counsel;

in the night also my heart instructs me.

I have set the Lord always before me;

because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;

my flesh also dwells secure.

For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,

or let your holy one see corruption.

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

The Lord is my portion. I will set Him ever before me. I will serve him with joy & move forward in Him. That is my declaration...that is the change in me!