The Deep Place is a short film highlighting the evil of child slavery, and the work of International Justice Mission (IJM), on Lake Volta in Ghana. It is a hard watch. The battle between darkness and light is conveyed both in the story and through powerful videography. I watched it because two friends of mine, who are lawyers, are currently in Ghana to learn from local communities about the painful reality of child trafficking in the fishing industry.
It feels heavy.
The world news cycle is one of wars and rumors of wars. Nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. Famines and earthquakes. State lawmakers and their spouses targeted and killed. Dueling parades and marches and protests. Hatred. Increased wickedness.
It feels heavy.
And it has been one of those seasons where our church has lost too many people. It happens sometimes, doesn’t it? When burials and memorials and pastoral care with the heartbroken fill up our days. We celebrated some who had lived a long and lovely life. We mourned others who left us too early; too tragically. We grieved them all.
It feels heavy.
A seminary professor of mine once said, “If the ministry load you are carrying feels too heavy – not just hard, because ministry can often be hard – it is time to put that weight down at the altar, and worship.” I remember hearing that as weakness. Now I understand it is faithfulness. Humility. Rightsizing.
There are times when we just cannot learn about another ministry strategy, or decipher the latest study of culture and Church, or receive input from those who don’t know, but (really REALLY) think they do…
There are times when the load feels too heavy.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
There are times when we just need to stop and think and breathe.
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10
There are times when we need to be reminded that God is at work and will make a way.
“Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:19
In these times, and indeed in all times, we are called to “return to the Lord” again and again and again. We must rely on the joy and the strength and the guidance of God, in all things. It is too easy to slip into despair (underestimating God’s power) or into self-reliance and self-righteousness (overestimating our abilities and role.) Neither is faithful nor fruitful.
We are called to the work – and even to feel the burden – but never to bear the full and heavy weight of it all. Put that down at the altar. And worship.
Questions for Reflection:
- What feels heavy to you and/or your community right now?
- When life and ministry feel heavy, are you most tempted toward despair or self-reliance/self-righteousness?
- What brings you back to God and your call?
- What is too heavy a weight that you need to put it down right now? What work might you feel called to continue or pick up?
- How can leaders in your ministry context encourage and model “returning to the Lord” and an ongoing reliance on the joy and strength and guidance of God?
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