Ministry Is Messy

Brain Food

Relationships are messy. One person offends another. Someone gets annoyed. Imperfect people ruin our perfect plans.

Conflict happens. That’s expected.

What’s often unexpected, sadly, is appropriate handling of the conflict. When people come to you to talk about situations that bother them, they mostly want to be heard. It’s important to listen and acknowledge their feelings.

The same is probably true for you. When a situation is frustrating, it’s easy to vent.

But let’s be honest. Venting can often mean gossiping about a person or a situation from a limited perspective, which does nothing to help the actual problem—and definitely doesn’t honor God.

Instead of immediately venting, take a minute to breathe deeply and seek God’s wisdom. Then approach the situation in a way that follows Scripture and respects others, even if it’s the toughest option.

Keep up the good but hard work of setting an example for the teenagers in your ministry.

Like they say...

“When through the blood of the everlasting covenant we children of the shadows reach at last our home in the light, we shall have a thousand strings to our harps, but the sweetest may well be the one tuned to sound forth most perfectly the mercy of God.”—A. W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy

God's Word

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of every- body. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” —Romans 12:14-18