Where was God in the Middle of a Ministry Storm

(Part 1 of 3)

At times we run into ministry opportunities

Out of our zeal and eagerness

To live out our faith and calling

Maybe we heard clearly God’s leading

Sometimes we acted out of obedience

Or even obligation

Whichever mixed motives we might have had

We acted out of obedience

Faith without works is dead

So we lived out of our living faith

And then

Things go wrong

In big or small ways

We hit a snag

Things become a hassle

Ministry becomes difficult

We feel burnt out

Ministry becomes deplete of joy

We are confused

We feel resentful

Or even bitter

God appears to be silent

Really? God?!

In the midst of our obedience to Your Calling?

You become SILENT

While the storm wage all around us?

“As they sailed, He fell asleep.

A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped,

and they were in great danger” (Luke 8:23)

Great danger!

Grave Danger!

But Jesus was “asleep” in the boat

Not bailing out the water

that was filling up the boat

Like the rest of the disciples were doing

All of them could have drowned

The disciples

And Jesus

Wake up, Jesus

Wake up

You’ve sent us on this mission

What are You doing when the going is getting tough

What good is Your “presence” when You’re asleep

You could at least lend us a hand to bail out the water

Swamping the boat

With You in it

We feel abandoned

Uncared for

Dismissed

Tossed aside

Unseen

Unheard

Rejected

Powerless

Hopeless

Very confused

Didn’t we hear You, God

Where did we go wrong

That You’d abandon us like this

Did we misunderstand Your calling

Did we mishear what You were saying

About this mission

About this circumstance

Did we not keep in step with the Holy Spirit

and have stepped outside of Your will

Are You disciplining us trying to teach us a lesson

Are You punishing us for our impure motives

What’s going on, God

Talk to us

Don’t be silent

Don’t fall asleep on us

Don’t abandon us

Especially not in the middle of a huge storm

Wake up

Get up

Do something

Say something

G O D

A very silent God

We feel like we are on our own

Having to bail out the water by ourselves

We are the one who must bail ourselves out

This could go on for the entire storm

And even after the storm has calmed down

We feel abandoned

Confused

Rejected

Lost

Dejected

Where were You God

Why didn’t You show up

Even if it’s just Your Presence

So we didn’t have to feel all alone out there

A silent God

Where is the Jesus Who woke up

and spoke to the storm

Were You even in my boat Jesus

Were You here with me in the storm

Silence

and

Confusion

TO BE CONTINUED…