1
Rough Two Years
Posted by
Kent Copley
,
13 January 2013
·
1345 views
December 31st my family watched football, played games and waited for the ball to drop in Times Square. There is great hope and opportunity in a new year isn't there? But what about reviewing a year? Many of us have seen the year-in-review tv shows reminding us of tragic events, deaths, accomplishments, etc., and the memories start flooding back.
Candidly, as I look back at the last two years they were rough. I'm not going to give you all the gory deals. But, there was gossip, blame, accusations, lack of trust, called a liar, friends who left the church, and so on. You add to your list. Prior to becoming a pastor nine years ago I was a lay leader for twenty years. I was very involved in ministry from youth work, to adults ministry and served on the board. I thought those experiences would prepare me for pastoral ministry. They did at one level, but when becoming a pastor there is yet another level of challenges that I had no idea existed.
I found, especially last year, bitterness and resentment creeping in. No matter my proactive "as far as it depends on me" spirit, many people, Christians mind you, have no interest in this biblical mandate. Yes, I've had conflict classes. There is so much to be said on this.
What happened along the way is I lost me. I lost some of my identity in Christ. Though my foundation was on solid ground, praise God, my house took a hit. My walls were beaten and battered. I was starting to feel distant and disengaged.
I spent much of the second half of last year praying, processing, reading, talking through my various challenges. My wife has been awesome. I have elders who were willing to listen and a few friends that really helped me. The Lord is so good...even amongst the desert walk. I have found Psalm 121 a constant source of strength. During this season I had to lift my eyes to the hills, remember that the Lord does not sleep over my issues, and promises to keep me from harm. I have held on to these and other promises of Scripture.
Though it's been a rough two years, I can say with the close of 2012 that I am at a much better place and I look forward to the coming year. "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more."
Candidly, as I look back at the last two years they were rough. I'm not going to give you all the gory deals. But, there was gossip, blame, accusations, lack of trust, called a liar, friends who left the church, and so on. You add to your list. Prior to becoming a pastor nine years ago I was a lay leader for twenty years. I was very involved in ministry from youth work, to adults ministry and served on the board. I thought those experiences would prepare me for pastoral ministry. They did at one level, but when becoming a pastor there is yet another level of challenges that I had no idea existed.
I found, especially last year, bitterness and resentment creeping in. No matter my proactive "as far as it depends on me" spirit, many people, Christians mind you, have no interest in this biblical mandate. Yes, I've had conflict classes. There is so much to be said on this.
What happened along the way is I lost me. I lost some of my identity in Christ. Though my foundation was on solid ground, praise God, my house took a hit. My walls were beaten and battered. I was starting to feel distant and disengaged.
I spent much of the second half of last year praying, processing, reading, talking through my various challenges. My wife has been awesome. I have elders who were willing to listen and a few friends that really helped me. The Lord is so good...even amongst the desert walk. I have found Psalm 121 a constant source of strength. During this season I had to lift my eyes to the hills, remember that the Lord does not sleep over my issues, and promises to keep me from harm. I have held on to these and other promises of Scripture.
Though it's been a rough two years, I can say with the close of 2012 that I am at a much better place and I look forward to the coming year. "The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forever more."
- elizabethcog likes this
