A friend of mine was listening to a radio preacher several years ago and they were speaking on the subject of “dis-encouragement,” all through their lesson they continued to use this incorrect word. We have had many laughs over this person’s simple mistake. We will look at each other and say, “don’t be dis-encouraged.”However, there may be some wisdom in this misuse of terminology. We as human beings go through cycles of encouragement that take us high into the stratosphere of hope only to be met with some new challenge that sends us crashing into the basement of discouragement. This could be called the cycle of “dis-encouragement.”
We as Pastors, Ministers and leaders face this on a daily basis. We receive a call from one soul that is making progress and we can see Jesus using our ministry to build stability in their lives and we are bolstered by their achievements. Then the phone rings and the bad news hits! Brother So-and-so has fallen; or has cancer; has lost his job; has lost a loved one and our emotions plummet to the ground.
We preach on Sunday and everything flows so easily. The worship soars and the wind of the Holy Ghost blows through the service and lives are changed forever. Then mid-week rolls around and the crowd is down and those that do show up are tired from the daily grind. The music skips a beat and the message seems to fall from your lips to the floor in front of the pulpit.
Up and down we’ll go; where we’ll stop no one knows!
David experienced this in his life many times. The thrill of defeating the lion and the bear empowered his soul. UP! The loneliness of the field and the solitude of shepherding would grip his heart. DOWN! The profound experience of the anointing oil flowing over his head and the prayer of ordination burned in his heart and in his ears. UP! Spears thrown! Songs sung! Fleeing death! Giants killed! The Cave! The Throne! Defeat! Victory! Sin! Forgiveness!
Up and down! Over and over!
The cycles of our lives can be disconcerting at the least and devastating at the most. However, you are not alone. I understand as a Pastor you have to be the pillar of strength for your family, your spouse, and your church. I understand the feelings of inadequacy so well. They haunt my mind on a daily basis. I also know that on this roller-coaster called leadership we must keep in mind that we are not alone.
Remember, God is with us! Emmanuel! There is no shadow of turning in Him. He does not get “dis-encouraged.” Lean. Fall. Run. Kneel at His feet. He will strengthen you. Just as David encouraged himself in the Lord and called for the ephod so that he could inquire of the Lord. We must allow Him to be God in our lives too. Just because we are called to lead does not mean that we do not need Him to minister to us.
He will strengthen you! He will lead you! He will stabilize your roller-coaster!
It is time to… re-encourage…re-pray…re-hope…re-worship…REJOICE!
