I’ve been out of full-time vocational ministry for a year this month. Having spent much of my adult life serving the church in one capacity or another, this last year has been weird, but really good for me. While I know what my calling is, I also know he’s called me to take a season away from full-time ministry to support my wife as she finishes her last year of Law School. That said, here’s what the hardest part of taking a sabbatical is: doing nothing. You see, I love to serve, I love to teach, I love to lead worship and during this season I’m doing none of it. In fact, writing these monthly articles are the only thing remotely connected to a formal ministry in my life right now.
For me, I am waiting for God to speak and tell me when it’s time to go back into vocational ministry. For you, maybe you are waiting on God’s promises to come true with respect to your health, or maybe it’s the restoration of a relationship, or perhaps you need a touch from God in some other area of you life. I want you know it’s ok to feel a little pain in the waiting, that’s part of the growing process. My prayer for you during your wait comes from Paul’s letter to the Colossians: We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. Col 1:11-12a (NLT). The waiting is hard, no doubt, but God is good and I’ll thank him during the wait. I pray that you will do the same.
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