Pullman Foursquare Church

There are times in our lives when circumstances bring us to a crisis point. During those times, our emotions rule us, our strength fails us, and our minds deceive us.  All that we normally rely on everyday disappears and we find ourselves in a crisis mode of feelings, thoughts and decisions. And we are never “ready” for it. In a twinkling, the rug is pulled out underneath us. Sometimes the crisis is very large, maybe a death in the family or a unexpected serious illness; a home engulfed in flames or the loss of income. Most often, the crisis is not so large or maybe it is a combination of crisis’ that still consume us…. the disappearance of a pet, the complete engine failure on your only car, or the loss of a friendship. Whether it comes in a large dose or small, it can send you into a downward, negative spiral.

I recently experienced such a crisis (thankfully a small one) and was surprised to take such a spiral in my thoughts and emotions. As I find sometimes occurs to me, I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to fall asleep again and my mind a flurry of disturbing pictures and thoughts, my emotions on the edge of uncontrolled weeping. I was reminded in a single moment of why I am so glad to be a Christian. In the middle of the darkness, I heard two words…..”dig deep”.

Now I am not totally unaccustomed to hearing God’s voice and recognized Him immediately but didn’t really understand what “dig deep” meant. As I pondered and searched over this new thought, God spoke to me about having roots deep enough to hold during whatever storm I was in. His encouragement to me was to hold fast, to rely on the truth that He has put in me through His word and to trust that those roots are deep enough to hold on. Indeed, I was encouraged and took my eyes off the situation at hand and put them on the answer to the situation…God Himself.

Thankfully, the crisis has passed and I am feeling more in balance and thinking more logically. But it would be my mistake to let the lesson I was taught to pass by unnoticed. I need to continue to dig deeper, to nurture what roots God has planted in me that will allow God to keep my foundation strong no matter what the future brings.  My encouragement to you is to do the same because sometimes you have to ”dig deep”.

My first real job was as an assistant box boy at the mom and pop grocery store in the little town where I grew up. During the first month of my career I was competently supervised by Jim the “senior” box boy. (he literally was a senior in high school.) Things went well untill Jim left the store to pursue bigger and better financial pursuits. In those days a boxer wore many hats from butcher, to checker, to order clerk. Very quickly I began to get bogged down in the thousand and one details of my job. Things got so bad at one point that I heard through the grapevine I was in danger of being fired.

One Wednesday evening  Jim came back for a visit. I was so excited I couldn’t stand still. A feeling of peace and security filled me in a way unlike anything I had experienced since he left. When we got a minute alone I poured out my troubles to him. I told him how I had been unable to keep up with the complicated and overwhelming load of responsibility that had been placed on my shoulders. I even went so far as to ask  if he would come back and take his old job supervising me.

He then said nine words that changed my work there forever. He told me that the job was really very simple, “…just keep the shelves full and the cusomers happy.”

Those words were a lifesaver. For the first time I was able to see the many things I did through a simple compelling prism. I went on to become the assistant manager of that store and worked in retail for the next twelve years.

The same thing is true in ministry. We go to work or school and see so many problems that we literally don’t know where to start. We wish that someone more knowledgable and experienced might take us by the hand and lead us to fruitfulness.

In John 5:19 Jesus gave us a simple definition of success in ministry. He lived by it and taught his initial twelve to live by it. Through the centuries the most fruitful people in the church both great and small have followed his nine word explanation on how to minister successfully in any situation. He articulated these words confronted by the Jewish leaders:

 So Jesus explained ” I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing.” (emphasis added)

These nine words will revolutionize your work in ministry. Try it. For the next thirty days, every time you enter your principle place of employment (or study), ask the Father what he is doing and how you can cooperate with him. You will be amazed at the results.