Way Truth Life Apologetics

(Started Aug 2023)

Life is hard for most (if not all) of us. “The struggle is real” is not only a popular phrase, nor is it cliché; it is a fairly accurate summary of trying to make one’s way through life. Challenges in life come in a variety of forms and sometimes these challenges coincide with one another. Struggles with family, relationships, academics, health (physical, emotional, and mental especially), employment, the list goes on and on. Another popular phrase is “no rest for the weary.” Life can certainly wear us down, more so when struggles seem to join forces and gang up on a person. These situations can generate immense feelings of unrest which impact us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Where do we go for refuge in the storms of life?

I’ve been through some of these storms recently, and one in particular is ongoing as I write this post. Stresses at work include peers, the shift I’ve worked for over 6 years and the time that has taken away from family, and growing more and more each day is the sense of not having a purpose. My work is tedious and technical. It impacts other’s ability to access finances (another stressor in life in the US—almost anything we try to do to survive or be entertained involves money and when we don’t have access to sufficient funds, here comes stress).

I will address the lack of purpose element stated above, as it is the main element I have been dealing with and trying to resolve for the past 1 1/2 years. When I was finishing up my Masters in Pastoral Studies, I sent my resume to at least 60 different churches from Maine to Florida, from Maryland to Michigan. My passion is for theology and while I was starting my 2^nd bachelor’s degree majoring in Biblical Studies I realized how much I love theology; how much I love learning about God and the Bible, and I have academic inclination and talent in that regard. I was a much better student during my Bible college and Seminary days than in my entire academic career prior. As I sought to find full time ministry, doors were not opening for me. God seemed to be saying “No” or “Not yet.” It was crushing at the time. With a wife and 3 young children, I needed to find work to care for and provide for them. That is when I started my current job.

Over the past 2 years, I’ve become more and more unsettled with my job. In recent months I’ve come to realize it is not part of my identity; I am not a technician at heart, I just work as one. Many years ago I heard the statement, “there is a difference between a job and a career. You work a job, but a career is when you get paid to do something you love and you never work a day in your life.” That is where I am. I am working a job that I am increasingly more uncomfortable with. I can do the work, but I have no passion for it. Along with the two other reasons I provided, my sense of purposelessness in what I do has frustrated me. As I sought counsel from the pastor at my church, he sees my situation as I do and his guidance falls in line with my thinking—God is getting ready to move me (professionally).

As wonderful as that is, knowing and trusting God will open a door somewhere, after 6 years of struggle and stress, I’m still waiting for what exactly that will be.

(Continued Sept 2023)

Today is over 1 month since I wrote what precedes above, so let me catch up on what God has done in that time. I’m still working the same job, though my shift is about to change to a more family friendly Monday thru Friday from 0830 to 5PM. I am still active in my church, though my inquiry to being considered for the open youth pastor position was not considered. On the surface, things don’t seem to have changed much, BUT last week God seems to be moving.

I unexpectedly received a text message from a pastor at a church in a neighboring town. This pastor has been friends with my church’s pastor for roughly 25 years. The youth pastor at this church is getting ready to become the senior pastor at another church, so there is a need to fill that role. I returned the text with a phone call, spent about 10-15 minutes chatting, and had a meeting the next day.

It seems the Lord is answering nearly a year of prayer and fasting with an opportunity to begin shifting into a professional ministry roll. This would be a bi-vocational position. Ideally, I would like to jump into full time ministry. I tell people often, especially my children, that we need to trust God knows what He’s doing and we need to respond to His call. I do trust God knows what He’s doing and if this is the opportunity He is providing, I do not want to tell Him ‘no,’ I want to respond, “here am I, send me.” (Is 6:8)

I am excited to see what God has planned. Through the hardship and uncertainty (which to date has been almost 2 years), God has been working. Part of the issue is our mentality and sense of timing. We want things when we want them, and more so when we feel it’s something we need. We have timeframes which we make plans around. Most of the time, God doesn’t work within those timeframes and we get impatient and anxious. I’m no different; it has been a challenge. BUT, God works in His timing, and His timing is perfect, for the building of His kingdom and the glory of His name. My attitude is to be like the psalmist wrote in Psalm 71:14, “but I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” I will praise the Lord, for He is worthy!

If you are going through similar; struggling and it seems God is silent or absent. Being a Christian does not exempt us from the hardships and trials of life. Being a Christian gives us opportunities to show the God is in control, and regardless the outcome of our situation(s), He is in charge and knows what is best. Cling to God, always, and even tighter when your burdens begin to weigh you down. Jesus declared, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28) Take a deep breath, pray, and remember Who God is!

~In Christ