Five Lessons I Learned From Church Planting This Week
- larry95lion
- Feb 2, 2021
- 2 min read

1. Rejection isn't always rejection.
So many times we look at our circumstances and we deem them as failures or personal rejections. Maybe they are, may they aren't. But the danger for me is lumping those earthly moments when you receive pushback, harsh words, or no-shows as the voice of the Lord in your life. The season of "things not going according to plan" is not the Lord removing His hand from you. It might just feel that way. Use the time to go deeper with the One who promised to never leave you, nor forsake you.
2. Throwing an emotional hissy-fit doesn't motivate God.
In my week of wallowing, I found myself bitter at times and even muttering discontent under my breath. I actually took large chunks of time away from ministry (i.e. fishing) by myself to express my disgust with God's apparent lack of interest in me. The Holy Spirit whispered a few things to my heart...God is interested, and His way is better. I thought I could mumble loud enough and God would do things my way. Thankfully, He didn't.
3. My wife doesn't deserve my worst.
When we are down and out, I have come to learn that the greatest potential damage done is in the relationships that should mean the most. I crawled into my shell during my preschooler fit and those I care most about noticed, and noticed, and worried and worried. Eventually what snapped me back from the brink was the reality of the bruising others were taking as a result of my emotional struggles.
4. Bad Sundays can mean simple Mondays (and maybe Tuesdays).
I don't remember where I read this, but years ago I was challenged to never allow Sunday's worst to carry over to bad Monday decisions. Use the early part of your week to do simple, menial, or administrative things rather than pulling the trigger on rash decisions like spending church money or sending out scary emails. Scale back what you do and allow the Holy Spirit to heal your soul and work-over your motivations.
5. Get some perspective when things seem bad.
As I grumbled to God in a Taco Bell parking lot one evening, I received an email from a ministry partner asking me to pray about a particularly difficult situation his family was enduring. God grabbed my heart and my attention. I may be having a difficult few months but I am not alone. It is quite possible that someone I know is working through something even worse and probably doing it with more class. I had never asked one person to pray for me. My perspective needed to change from selfish to humble, fast.
If you're going through I funk, I feel ya. Remember that ministry is kingdom and kingdom is eternal. Your value and worth is not found in what you do. Your value and worth is found in an Eternal Savior who loves you. Let me say that again...He Loves You. That's it.
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