I have a confident grin on my face as I write this. It has little to do with me and everything to do with the goodness of my Father! It’s amazing how He continues to show Himself strong and faithful in all seasons of life, isn’t it?
It’s in this transitional moment of life where I’m writing my first blog for ExPastors.com, being an ex-pastor myself, yet about to enter a new chapter of vocational ministry in just under a week as I’ve accepted a new position at an amazing, life-giving church.
I have spent the last four years of my life in a struggle for my family, my integrity, and my calling as a son of God. With some bad choices made years ago, I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling with who I am and what I was to do with a life that I let spin into chaos.
I truly believe that our passions and callings are set in stone for life (Romans 11:29) but it’s on us to put in the hard work when the wheels fall off. Not that we work for a platform or for status, rather, we work on our hearts and start figuring out why we sometimes fill the gaps of life with dangerous things rather than pursuing the things of God.
Yes, we fall and we fail. But that doesn’t mean we have to stay there! I heard a Pastor once say, “If you don’t quit, you win.”
One of the easiest things we can do in life as well as in our relationship with Christ is to just throw in the towel when things aren’t going the way we figured they would or should. It’s easy to become discontented when we realize that God isn’t a genie that makes all our bad decisions go away when, in our sinful state, we go to Him with our wish lists.
The fact is, my friends, we all have a past.
There are either skeletons in our closets that we would die if people knew about, or, like me, we have issues that have come to light for the masses to read and speculate about. Whatever the case, I believe that our past or present struggles have held us back and defined long enough.
It’s time that we learn that our flaws and faults have a resting place at the feet of Jesus.
As children of God, we need to stop living in the shame and guilt that past decisions have left us trapped in and start to view ourselves through the lens of Heaven.
- You’re a conqueror! (Rom. 8:37)
- You’re a new creation! (2 Cor. 5:17)
- You’re righteous and holy in Him! (Eph. 4:24)
- You’re saved by Grace, not your performance! (Eph. 2:8)
So let this be an encouragement to you:
No matter what you’ve done, no matter how far you feel like you’ve sunk to the bottom, your Father is ready and waiting to embrace you with His grace.
Your pursuit of Him is not in vain, especially in those moments when you feel like you’re not getting anywhere or seeing tangible results.
Again, I encourage you to keep pursuing Him and His goodness! You will see that, in time, as your faith and faithfulness increases, the more aware you will become of the hand of God on your life. Heck, I bet you’ll even be able to look back and see that He was there by your side in every situation you’ve faced! Take it from a leader with a limp, the best IS coming!
Take it from a leader with a limp, the best IS coming!
Stay humble.
Stick to the cross.
Bob Sherbondy
I agree. I’ve had the same experience in 64 years of trying to serve God in various ministries. I’m now retired, but I’m engaged in a new world-wide ministry through my website on the internet. I’m blessed that God hasn’t given up on me and isn’t through with me yet, but I get tired almost every afternoon.