There are times where in life you feel like you don’t make a difference anymore or you are not effective in what God has called you to do. You begin to wonder if anything you do or say is really making an impact in this world and those around you. There is so much hurt, pain, circumstances, depression and other things that many people deal with and you just wonder sometimes, “what can I do?” You then began to wonder if you have lost the zeal that you once had, you began to feel like your efforts are futile and you wonder how do you break the cycle of feeling ineffective.
You try to deal with family, your job, your relationships and your own issues. The enemy will then have you cornered with all of these things bombarding you and you just don’t know how to fight your way out of the corner. Sometimes you want to give up, change venues, change careers or just throw your hands up and surrender to the feeling. All of these are the easy way out, but we know that God wants us to stay the course and finish the race.
In his word God encourages us on many occasions that we need to stay in it. Jeremiah wanted to quit. Paul was being persecuted. David ended up in a cave in isolation. All of these examples are real when it comes to feeling like what you are doing is not effective. You sometimes want to just run away. The Lord will however, send you someone or speak to you to let you know that you are making a difference. We all have spiritual gifts that are beneficial to the Kingdom of God. Maybe your gift is in a transitioning period. That is ok. God never says that you gift will be in the same place for the duration of your life.
1 Corinthians 15:10 states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
What motivates me to keep going when I feel ineffective is to realize that it has nothing to do with me. Paul speaks to us when he says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am.” He is saying only because of God we are able to even do what we do. Because of that, I will continue to work as hard as I can and not that I take the credit but that it is His grace that is doing the work. As long as I know that I am doing the best I can in service…My ineffectiveness is made effective because of His grace!
Sound Back!
#dokechronicles
I know this feeling personally. After my husband transitioned I felt lost,
I felt ineffective at church and at home, as well as with friends. I was also feeling exhausted and empty. What I did was sit still, pray, meditate and listen. God answered my prayers by moving me into a higher position. I have been asked to teach the young ministers wives at the up coming Californa State Minister’s Wives and Minister’s Widows Conference this upcoming Spring. I’m excited because I can now use my experiences and knowledge that God has given me to be an encourager and helper for others. To God I give the Glory. When you feel ineffective stop, look to the Lord for direction and Listen for His answer.