Don’t miss out on the great responses to the last topic: Her Life in a Fishbowl: My Kids Are Just Kids (Part 3)
Topic Introduction
It is time for a particular ministry to end for your leadership family… Things are beyond damage control. Countless attempts over the years have been made in vain to rectify multiple major problems. Your church is suffering. Your husband is suffering. You and the children are beyond suffering. However, your husband will – not – give – up – the good(?) fight. Is this his indomitable spirit of forbearance, or is it stubbornness? His manly pride?
Let’s discuss our reliance on God, as His Holy Spirit indwells our heart, to deal with these crucial areas of our relationship with our husband, as we encourage an end to a ministry:
- My respect for him
- My concerns as to the damage done or damage there can be to our children and to our marriage relationship during this wrenching time
- “I know that leaving this current ministry location must be God’s decision, but I am afraid God might not agree with me!”
Share a brief description of what position you found yourself in, using these references given above, or your own findings. Then, tell us how you got through it and what you learned!
What Are Your Stories?
Anonymously respond to the prompt in the “Leave a Reply” box at the very bottom of this page.
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Each month a topic will be presented. I will give an introduction and an invitation to all of you who would like to respond to the topic. Ask questions. Tell your story. A little bit of crying and bellyaching is allowed, however, there will be limitations. Our goal is to find each other through our discussion of our shared experiences and to encourage each other. God will be with us!
Respond to the topic in the “Leave a Reply” box at the very bottom of the this page.
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Do you know, the third bullet point; “I know that leaving this current ministry location must be God’s decision, but I am afraid God might not agree with me!” is an area in my Christian walk that I struggle with. I’m thinking that this is a struggle of my own making, but a life struggle, none the less!
I do believe that my Christian ministry and the many, MANY struggles I have brought before the Lord revolve around this attitude. Upon reflection and heart-searching, I do believe that a lot of the areas of seeking God’s will, and God’s blessing to go forward with my decision, include my attitude of “learned comprehension of how God blesses, or gives encouragement to my forward movement of decisions” that this life in ministry cause me to make.
In this area of struggle, I am at my wit’s end with putting up with a seemingly impossible ministry situation. I want out, but does God want me out?
Here’s my answer, and conclusion to “my will or God’s will”:
1) If God wants me to serve Him with every aspect of me and my life – how can I possibly serve, if all my attempts are thwarted? How can I move FORWARD in His service? If my forward-moving service is not allowed by my surrounding circumstances and influences, then it is obvious that I must extricate myself from that which prevents my spiritual progress.
2) If doors open in front of my steps and doors close behind me – I believe this to be God’s positive directives. I’ve spent so many years seeing this type of God’s positive direction when it comes time for me to lean on His leadership into progression.
3) In EVERY decision I make concerning moving away from and moving toward opportunities for spiritual growth, revival and service, I Must look to Him, seek Him and His clear direction. Seek His blessing as I make these decisions. If they are His will, I am confident that He will make it clear as I move away from and move forward to what He has for me next. James 1:17; Phill. 4:19; II Corinthians 9:8; Psalm 1: 1-3.
My husband has served for almost four years in his first call as a priest/pastor. He is happy, and feels like all is going well. However, sometimes I am not happy with our two parishes, and wonder if God may be preparing us to think about a change. There is actually an opening now at the church we previously served together. Moving back to the town our kids grew up in, and back to the home we still own, would be a happy thing for me. I’m not sure my husband would really be the type of leader our previous church would need or want, because it is a much bigger parish. My husband has sent in his profile for ministry, so now all we can do is wait and pray for God’s leading and guidance!
Thank you Robby, for sharing your heart and current ministry quandary with us.
Re-locating to a new ministry is a huge decision and involves so many changes and requirements.
Our prayers are with you and your husband as you wait upon the Lord for His guidance. We also pray for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to grow you and your husband and enable you to do that which is required for the ministry you are called to serve in.