There are things in our lives that hit us like a ton of bricks and makes us take stock of what we are doing in our lives. Recently I have come to realize that, just when you think you have everything figured out...life takes a hard turn. It is something that usually is not the most pleasant thing to have happen, but in time it turns out to be the best thing that can happen.As a pastor, I struggle with the feeling that I have to "save" everyone I come in contact with. I, by nature, am a fixer and I think that since I have been called by God to be in the ministry I should be able to help people. Things that have occurred recently made me realize something that I had lost perspective of...something that I learned a long time ago in ministry. My role is to demonstrate the life that Christ intends us to live, but I am just the messenger and no matter how I try not everyone is going to get it. That, my friends, is a hard lesson to learn at times.
What does this have to do with you? Well we all have people in our lives who seemed to not get it when it comes to accepting Jesus Christ in their lives. You talk to them...explain to them how their life will change and they still seem to go down a very destructive path. We all need to remember that we can only deliver and demonstrate what Christ is all about. And there will be some people who will never get it.
That means when we think we have failed with someone we need to remember to turn it over to the Lord. We also need to remember to keep those folks in our prayers and to continue to talk with them in a caring manner. So the next time you become frustrated with a person...just remember "when all else fails" just turn it over to the Lord!
