I heard a preacher once say, “They know the glory but they don’t know the story.” I could not agree more. Often when we are on the verge of a breakthrough in our ministry, we must endure some of the toughest times of our personal life. Usually people can see what is taking place on the outside of us, but they do not see what is happening on the inside. Pain.
I want to talk about the type of results I love to see in my life and ministry when I have endured a season like this:
1. I want get closer to Jesus. Jesus was the greatest example of endurance when he endured the cross for us all. I cannot even imagine what he had to endure for my salvation. That is why I want my trials and tests to draw me closer to him. Not farther. The more trials I face, the closer I feel to Jesus.
2. I want to see results in my personal ministry. The question I ask myself. Am I growing? Is the ministry growing? Are people growing? I think it is so sad to see leaders who endure trials and never see results. Or to see leaders who allow their trials to cause them to lose momentum. I refuse to allow trials to divert me, I want those trials to give me more traction in my ministry.
3. I want to get closer to those who really love me. People can be so fake sometimes. They stand by you in the good times, but they are nowhere to be found in the tough times. I want my trials to point me to those who are truly important in my life. I thank God for them. You should too.
What have you been through lately? How have trials drawn you closer to God? Who do you thank God for when you are facing tough times? Leave a comment. Let me know.
Pastor Al
Tags: Church, leadership, pain, trials
April 30, 2009 at 1:46 am
Hey Pastor,
this is good stuff.
I feel God is taking me personally to new levels and I know the pain is worth it.
In times of trials I thank God for you my Pastor and friends that are there to encourage me.
I’m on my way to new levels.
Andre
April 30, 2009 at 2:02 am
Good stuff P. Al;
As you know we find ourself in a season of transition, like walking through a dark tunnel towards our next destination. There is nothing to hold on to and there is too much to be uncertain about. The only thing it seems we have left is God’s call and His promises for our lives. It makes us rely on Him more than ever.
It is good in seasons like this, that we have friends that; tell us not to panic, keep encouraging us, love us no matter what, and point us toward the Lord for direction.
April 30, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Great Blog Pastor Al!
This reminds me of the message you spoke “GROW.” What really caught my attention is when you said how said it is when leaders go through trials but they don’t get any results.
Transition is hard but I don’t think it always has to be. I see God helped me through a time of being misunderstood. The only defender I had was God. I had to rely on him to get me through some of the internal pains I was dealing with. Like many others, I find myself awaiting great things in the future…wish there was complete certainty. A promise is what I have.
I thank God for my leaders and friends that have assured me everything will be fine.
April 30, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Pastor Al,
I stand in all, this is the first time I have read the blog. I am so glad I did. These last weeks have been the most testing and painful weeks for not only me personally, but as a family. With the loss of the baby, and with just our everyday tests and trials.
I have gotten closer to god then ever before. God has shown me so much this last week, he has shown me to trust. Not only trusting him, that he is in control. But trusting others with my emotions and feelings. I feel so free now that I have been able to open up with my leaders. Its been so long since I have felt this freedom.
I thank God that he allowed me to go thru all of this. I am not only coming out of this experience a wiser and stronger women, wife, and mother.
I thank God for the awsome church, pastors and leaders he has blessed me and my family with!
Priscilla Trujillo
April 30, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Great Blog, as you know I have truly been through some tough times in loosing my husband… Like you I have tryed my best to get closer to God, like the prayer retreat for starters, ect… I was in a car accident at work, it seems like every time I try to go forward something else happens but the Lord has been so faithful I have some more time to get closer to him, thanks for the prayers, Veronica
April 30, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Awesome Blog Pastor,
I thank God for my Pastors, my Leaders, and my real friends. There was a time in my life when I didn’t have anyone to turn to in the midst of the storm. Early on in my walk with God I learned that I had to turn to him and pray my way out. Trials will always take away from us in some way, it may make us bitter, angry, hard hearted, but it’s up to us to get that momentum back, and keep trucking forward for the honor and glory of God! My opinion is, everything about VOSD is growing and if we’re in this for the long hall, then we have no choice but to run with this and grow with the vision! We Can Do It! Sister Georgina and Pastor Al, you both represent MOMENTUM! Thank you for your leadership.
April 30, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I am humbled by the responses on this post. Please know that my heart is in prayer for you all. Georgina & I are standing with you all. The best will come.
Pastor Al
April 30, 2009 at 11:57 pm
wow! this is good stuff.
I know God is taking Carlos and I to new levels.
With the failures and victories that we will encounter.
I thank God for my pastors, and leaders that challenge us to be better. Through the tough times I thank God that we have made it this far. I thank God for those true lifetime friends.
(i still can’t believe that VOSD is the church i grew up in…look at us now!)
We love you Pst.Al & Sis. Georgina for believing in us.
YOU ROCK!
May 1, 2009 at 12:14 am
I just want to say I thank God for my salvation today and that he has surrounded me with such awesome people. I’ve been believing God for my family for many years now, and sometimes I feel like things will never change. Many times I’ve been criticized by the way I chose to live my life, and I felt like I was standing alone in the flood. But I am grateful to say that through all that It had made me better. and I can stand today not the same person who I was 9 yrs ago. God is still doing a work in my life in my family and in this church.
Pastor Al & Sis. Georgina, thank your for your sacrifice and example-ship. God has given us a great destiny. I am so greatful to be a part of such a great church.
May 1, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Amen, Amen. Im officially calling my season the “Via Dolorosa” And they never last for a week, do they! And its true that people usually never see the pain. Someone put a cross in my hand as we shared our struggles. It was a powerful experience, because he was diagnosed with pancr cancer. What I learned is that someone always has it worse. And that crosses come to everyone.
I thank God for people like you guys who look back and help the rest. Who share stories of glory and the gory!(make sense)(cause this via can make me poetic)
May 1, 2009 at 5:19 pm
You Hit It Right On The Nail!
That’s what makes our ministry so unique, because of awsome pastors like you and Sis. Georgina that help us to stay focused on the cross thruogh thick & thin. Our ministry has been through so much (as a church and as individuals). Our church is full of real stories of God’s power. You can’t help but draw to this because the world we face is in the middle of panic and it is good to know that we can find refuge at the feet of the cros and in a church where you know that beyond a shadow of a doubt God is REAL…