Ministry Hurt
I often wrestle with this paradigm – someone serves God to their fullest capacity, does everything she is asked to do, and yet somehow experiences hurt. I know that just because we show people God’s love it doesn’t mean that they will in turn show us love. I know that Jesus himself experienced ministry hurt. But that doesn’t change how I feel about it.
I love my adult leadership team. I serve with great men and women who love God and love teens. If there is a need, they are the first to meet it – even when I don’t ask. Each week, they come and give up their Sunday nights so that our teens can experience God. They pray, they sweat, and they sacrifice for our teens and yet every now and then they get hurt by the very ones they are trying to love.
This happened last night at The Refuge. We had an epic night of worship, fun, and a challenge through the message. But I walked away from the night broken inside for the hurt that a few of my adults experienced when our teens unintentionally rejected them. No one person really did anything wrong. It’s just the nature of working with teens whose world does not extend beyond the reach of their arms. Nothing I could do will take away the hurt except to hurt alongside them and leave it to God to use it somehow.
That’s hardest part. Not being able to do anything but leave it up to God. But, then again, He is the best healer…
