Prepared to Face Obstacles?

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Just because we serve the Lord doesn’t mean all will go well. Be prepared to face obstacles along the way.

Be Prepared to Face These Types of Obstacles in Ministry

Sometimes ministry will affect us personally when we find it …

  • demanding, often inconvenient.
  • stretching, taking us outside of our comfort zones.

Sometimes we will face limitations like …

  • a lack of resources.
  • people who don’t want to grow spiritually.

Sometimes we will meet with resistance from people who ….

  • don’t want change.
  • disagree with us.

What to Remember When Facing These Hurdles

We Will Face Obstacles But Trouble Doesn't Have to Overtake Us
If serving for any length of time, you undoubtedly experienced at least one, maybe even all, of the above scenarios. If not, you probably will at some point so prepare yourself for this reality.

Even Jesus acknowledged, “In this world you will have trouble” (Jn. 16:33). Obstacles, however, don’t have to stop us from serving. Jesus went on to say, “But take heart! I have overcome the world”.

We need to remember that God doesn’t leave us to our own strength or wisdom to hurdle these roadblocks. Consider memorizing the following Scripture verses so you can readily reflect on them and be prepared to obstacles.

To keep discontentment and discouragement from taking over, pull on the strength God provides to rise above.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Josh. 1:9)

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:12-13)

To keep from making obstacles even worse, pull on the wisdom God provides.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Prov. 3:5-6)

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

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Identifying and Keeping the Top Priorities?

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We all have priorities, that which we deem as most important. We tend to invest most of our time, energy, and resources into what truly matters to us. As followers of Jesus, we need to ask if what we value most is what He views as the greatest priorities in life. Do we have the right priorities in our lives? How do keep His priorities at the top of our list?

Identifying the Top Priorities

Certainly it makes sense that if Jesus identified two commandments as the greatest, those commands should be our top priorities. In short, He said that loving God with all of who we are should be our top priority. Love for people comes next. See Matthew 22:36-40.

Jesus Identified Love for God and People as the Greatest Commandments, Making It Our Top Priorities

Reflect on these priorities by clicking on the following links:

Keeping the Right Priorities

In the busyness of life, we can easily lose sight of what’s most important. We get caught up on all we have to do to the point that we neglect our relationship with God and often important people in our lives. Further, our old sin nature pushes us to self-fulfillment and self-gratification, making ourselves top priority rather than God and others. How do we keep the right priorities?

It’s easy to say we love God and people, but another thing to live it out. Maintaining these priorities, however, is possible regardless of our life circumstances if we begin with the right perspective and continue by pulling on a power outside of ourselves. Take time to reflect on these realities by clicking on the links listed below:

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Teaching About Prayer

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Perhaps you want to teach on praying but aren’t sure where to begin. Maybe you taught about it in the past but it didn’t seem to have much impact. Incorporate the following elements when teaching about prayer and see if it makes a difference. (Click on the links within the post for added input.)

Begin by Getting to the Real Essence of Praying

Though a spiritual discipline we “ought to” do, praying is so much more. Through prayer we connect with the Almighty God, an outgrowth of our relationship with Him. While we could list a number of good reasons to pray, communion with the Lord ranks at the top. Help people develop the right purposes for praying.

Instruct People on What the Bible Says about Prayer

When teaching about prayer, help people learn to pray in a way that reflects who God is because who God is affects how He answers prayer. God’s Word provides valuable instruction, not just about the importance of praying but also what’s important when we pray. Jesus Himself gave pointers on how to pray.

Start teaching about prayer when people are young. The Children Learn to Pray Curriculum by Ministry Tools Resource Center uses the Lord’s Prayer as a starting point. For Bible lessons on prayer for all ages, go to: Teaching about Praying

Remember the Power of Your Example in Teaching about Prayer

Teaching about Prayer Came as a Result of Seeing Jesus Pray
(Click image to enlarge in Pinterest & repin.)

Look at Jesus for an example of the power of one’s own prayer life. — “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘”Lord, teach us to pray …'” (Lk. 11:1-4) — Imagine your students, disciplees, or congregants coming to you and ASKING YOU to teach them to pray.

Teaching prayer by examples requires the following on our part …

Authenticity
Consistency
Availability

When praying becomes part of our church culture, people notice. We don’t just talk about praying. We pray.

When we pray like we truly believe, people notice. We don’t just go through the motions of praying. We actually believe God hears us and cares.

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Learning to Cope in Times of Crisis

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We will all inevitably face times of crisis, whether personal or as a nation. We find examples of how to cope in Scripture.

Learn How to Cope in Crisis from the Old Testament Prophet Habakkuk

Habakkuk provides an example of dealing with crisis that has a more global, or national, reach. He wrote of destruction, violence, strife, conflict, injustice, and more (Hab. 1:3-4).

From Habakkuk we learn how to …

(Click on the links for more on each of the above lessons.)

Habakkuk’s conclusion:

Habakkuk’s Example of Coping in Times of Crisis

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.” (Hab. 3:17-19)

Learn about Coping in Times of Crisis from the Apostle Paul

Paul provides an example of dealing with crisis on the personal level. He sometimes experienced hunger, thirst, and want of other basics. He faced persecution, shipwreck, and other dangers. (2 Cor. 11:23-28; Phil. 4:12)

From Paul’s life we learn how to …

find purpose even in negative circumstances and wrongs done by others by keeping the focus on Christ.

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. … For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. … It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry … out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. (Phil. 1:12-26)

keep perspective by remembering that hardships and suffering provide opportunity to get to know the Lord better.

What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ. … I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings … (Phil. 3:7-11)

be content no matter the circumstances by finding strength in the Lord.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Phil. 4:12-13)

Paul’s conclusion: “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Phil. 4:20)

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Recruitment Blues? – Put Yourselves in Each Other’s Shoes

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Many churches have problems recruiting. We might be quick to fault people’s busy lives or lack of spiritual maturity, but is it always their fault? Perhaps we should put ourselves in each other’s shoes. Both ministry leaders trying to recruit and the people they seek to recruit can experience recruitment blues. The recruitment problem may go both ways. We need to understand each other’s perspective.

Put Yourself in Each Other’s Shoes

Imagine being a ministry leader who can’t get enough people to serve. They feel a weight of responsibility for effective ministry but can’t do it without enough volunteers. What are they to do? Do they discontinue programs, combine classes, etc.? How do they accomplish other responsibilities when they must put so much effort into recruiting? Should they resort to begging or bribing people to serve? Imagine their frustration. — How quick would you be to get discouraged when you can’t get enough people to volunteer?

Now imagine being a church attender constantly sought after in recruitment efforts. They may feel manipulated, guilted, or coerced into serving. Perhaps they don’t feel their time, needs, and interests matter. Imagine their frustration. — How quick would you be to get discouraged about the value of serving due such recruitment efforts?

Some Reminders When it Comes to Recruitment Blues

Roleplaying to see how each side feels, leads to heart reminders we all need.

Ministry Leaders: The way you approach recruitment affects people’s opinions about serving and the effectiveness of recruiting. Be careful to approach recruitment with integrity and with high regard for people. — “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.” (Prov. 4:23, 26)

Read: Motivating People to Serve

Church Attenders: Serving is God’s idea. Your first concern should be loving and glorifying Him, regardless of how your church handles recruitment. Make it about the Lord. Anything done in His name is worthwhile! — “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” (Rom. 12:11)

Read: Reasons for Serving

Help Getting Beyond Recruitment Blues with Staffing Ministry Manual
For help getting beyond recruitment blues, check out the Staffing Ministry Manual. Therein you’ll find help with recruiting and much more to help you get the right people into the right ministry at the right time.

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Realistic Expectations in Ministry

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Realistic Expectations Say We Will Have Trouble But
We tend to go into ministry with expectations but are they realistic expectations? Our expectations may be too high or too low. Jesus, however, gave His disciples a more realistic perspective. He warned them of pending trouble as they served but also pointed to hope. — “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33)

Going into Ministry with Expectations That Are Too High

Ministry will not be problem-free. If we set our expectations too high, expecting that everything will run smoothly and that everyone will accept and agree with us, then we are in for some surprises that might disillusion or discourage us, even cause us to quit.

Jesus warned the disciples of troubles so they could maintain perspective when when difficulties came. Peace in the midst of troubles would be possible “in Him”.

Going into Ministry with Expectations That Are Too Low

While we will face problems, ministry will not be filled with insurmountable problems. If we go into ministry with expectations set too low, it will very likely lead to half-hearted efforts.

Ministry will have both ups and downs, but we can make it through and even thrive regardless of the circumstances. Such realistic expectations are based on two words Jesus spoke in John 16:33 — “in me”. We can rise above because He is the Overcomer!

Going into Ministry with Realistic Expectations

Realistic expectations are essential to our peace as we wade through troubles we face in ministry. Our perception affects our level of commitment, as well as how we view and treat those we serve. If we maintain realistic expectations, we’ll be able to diligently serve with joy in our hearts regardless of the circumstances.

Realistic expectations demand faith. Though we acknowledge the potential for troubles in ministry, we don’t stop there. Jesus continued, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” With God all things are possible. Do we truly believe Him?

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