When I Find Myself In Times of Trouble...

Mother Mary does not come to me, but I do find encouragement and strength in her son! The past week or so, I've been quite stressed. I have had a lot on my plate and there have been a lot of quick dramatic changes. At times it feels like I am being pulled in 5000 directions and because of that, I have no direction. I want to do my best at all I do, but if I concentrate on one thing, the other fall by the wayside.

Encouragement is an important thing in our lives, especially in the lives of those in ministry. If we are not continually filled with encouragement and the love of Christ, we will be serving from an empty Well and it will not only be hurt and draining us, but the ones we are serving as well. Sometimes I wonder "How do they do it?!" People like the president or heads of non-profit organizations and other ministries. How on earth do they not just want to give up and say "I'm done! I can't take it anymore!"

Life is stressful and if we give up at the first sign of adversity (in whatever form it may come), then we were not truly devoted to what we were doing in the first place and we were not doing our best and anything less than our best for Christ is a sin. It's not loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

This morning was a rough morning. My wife brought to my attention some things I have been derelict in doing. She was not trying to be mean, but she was trying to help me in my ministry. However, I took it as "Wow Jeff, you really dropped the ball!" Once I left the house, I went to the high school for FCS (Fellowship of Christian Students.) FCS meets every Friday morning at 7:45 for a time of devotion and worship. This morning, however, no one showed up and that just added to my already hurt and saddened spirit. On the way to the office I told myself "Jeff, you have got to perk up! You have the power of Christ flowing through your veins! God has called YOU to minister to these students! He has faith in You, Jeff! Have faith in Him!" Usually that works, but this morning, it didn't and I came into the office looking and feeling like Johnny Rain Cloud.

After sitting in my office for what seemed like an eternity staring at the pictures on my wall from my trips to China and Kenya, I went to my truck and grabbed my bible. Now, in the bookshelf no more than 3 feet from where I was sitting are 13 of my own bibles and another 20 bibles that I give to students who don't have a bible. But I went to my truck to get MY bible. This is the bible I highlight in, underline in. This is my personal bible.

I flipped it open to Acts (where I am currently reading and studying) and read chapter 14. It talked about Paul and Barnabas and their ministries in Iconium, Lystra, Derbe and Antioch. In all these places they spoke with boldness and effectively. God enabled them to do miraculous sings and wonders so the people would believe. But still, in all these cities, there were people who rose up against them. Paul was even stoned and dragged outside the city because he was thought to be dead!

Then, in verses 21-22 is says

"They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. then they returned to Lystra (where Paul was stoned), Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and sncouraging them to remain true to the faith. 'We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God' they said."

After reading that, I was indeed encouraged. I've always known the apostles and disciples were persecuted (Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Matthew 5:10-12) but today, reading about it gave me the strength I needed to carry on. Granted, I'm not being stoned and mocked and yelled at by an angry mob, but there are time when I feel inadequate.

Praise be to God! The maker and finisher of all things! He has anointed me, set His seal of ownership on me, and put his Spirit in my heart as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come! (2 Corinthians 1:21b-22) God has made an investment in me! A dude who took 7 years to get a 4 year B.S. in History and Geography! He invested in me! A man who sins and falls way short of His glory! He invested in me! Charles Jeffrey Fyke, a 26 year old with great aspirations and little follow through. The bank may not want to invest in me, but my God does!

Below is the song "Believe" by the band The Letter Black. I just discovered them about a month or two ago and I really like them. They are a bit rocky, so I love playing them with my window rolled down driving down the back roads. lol! I don't know why God has so much faith in me, it will always be a mystery to me. I'll put my faith in the unknown and my hope in God alone!

"Believe"

The Letter Black

Sometimes I feel like I'm alone
Hoping, praying You hear me
Screaming inside to ease the pain
Save me, keep me alive

I'm not afraid anymore
Of what I don''t know
Believe (I put my faith)
In the unknown
Believe (I put my my hope)
In God alone
Have faith in what you don't know

Sometimes I feel like I have to cry
Until my emotions run dry
I'm breaking inside to hide the pain
Save me, keep me alive

I'm not afraid anymore
Of what I don''t know
Believe (I put my faith)
In the unknown
Believe (I put my my hope)
In God alone
Have faith in what you don't know

I know you're here
I can feel you now
I know your love embraces me

I put my faith in the unknown
I put my hope in God alone

Believe (I put my faith)
In the unknown
Believe (I put my my hope)
In God alone
Have faith in what you don't know

(I put my faith in the unknown)
Give up all your sorrow
Have faith in what you don't know
Believe (I put my hope)
In God alone
Have faith in what you don't know
You don't know