{"id":5142,"date":"2011-02-21T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2011-02-21T13:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/?p=5142"},"modified":"2026-07-24T11:20:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T15:20:52","slug":"joy-in-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mintools.com\/blog\/joy-in-ministry.htm","title":{"rendered":"Not Finding Much Joy in Ministry?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Joy<\/a>
\nPhilippians 4:4 —<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

“Rejoice in the Lord always.”\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Apostle Paul knew the difficulties and disappointments that come in ministry.\u00a0 He experienced hardships in life. Yet, he exhorts us to rejoice ALWAYS.<\/p>\n

To Find Joy in Ministry, We Must Learn to Rejoice in the Lord<\/h2>\n

The answer to finding joy is knowing where to find it — “in the Lord”.<\/p>\n

Rejoice in the Lord
\n<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 — not in what you are doing.<\/p>\n

If your source of joy is in your accomplishments, what happens to your joy when you are hindered from reaching your goals?<\/p>\n

We lose our joy when we become anxious about what we are doing rather than trusting God.<\/p>\n

Rejoice in the Lord
\n<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 — not in the conditions around you.<\/p>\n

If the conditions in which you serve, or live, are less than ideal, what happens to your joy?<\/p>\n

We lose our joy when keep our eyes on this world rather than what is to come.<\/p>\n

Rejoice in the Lord
\n<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 — not in what you have.<\/p>\n

If you were to lose what is most precious to you, how would that affect your joy?<\/p>\n

We lose our joy when we focus on what we have or do not have rather than who we are in Him.<\/p>\n

Rejoice in the Lord
\n<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 — not in ministry success.<\/p>\n

If your ministry efforts, whatever they may be, did not go well, how would it affect your joy?<\/p>\n

We lose our joy when we let it become about what we do rather than what He does.<\/p>\n

Rejoice in the Lord
\n<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0 — not in people’s opinions of you.<\/p>\n

If you didn’t like people’s responses to what we say or do, how much would it affect your joy?<\/p>\n

We lose our joy when we are controlled by the expectations of others rather than seeking God’s glory.<\/p>\n

When we try to find joy in anything other than in the Lord, we may find ourselves rather joyless at times.\u00a0 Ministry can be disappointing.\u00a0 Life can be hard.\u00a0 The Lord, however, remains faithful and true.\u00a0 He loves us no matter what.\u00a0 He is always good.\u00a0 When we find our joy in Him, we can rejoice always.<\/p>\n

When Philippians 4:4<\/span> becomes a reality, then we will reflect joy in ministry<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Rejoice in the Lord always.\u00a0 I will say it again:\u00a0 Rejoice!”<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Apostle Paul knew the difficulties and disappointments that come in ministry. He experienced hardships in life. Yet, he exhorts us to rejoice ALWAYS. The secret? . . . Continue reading Not Finding Much Joy in Ministry?<\/span>→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5142","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ministry-troubles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\t\t