I was asked yesterday by a friend, “When is it time to give up?”
Now most of you know that I am an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and I have been on leave from call for the past 16 months. I have been diligently seeking where God is calling me to be next. And my friend who has been with me through the rough times while I was serving my previous congregation and had listened to me and helped me through things just asked, “when is it time to give up?” He was not being mean, or trying to tear me down. He was asking a question to get me thinking. And I have been, hence this post.
I told him that I was not ready to give up. But he reminded me that I was a few times we had spoken. And yes it is true, I was in some dark valleys and deep sad places, as I heard over and over again, “we are releasing you…” or “we are not continuing the process with you…” It is hard to hear that you are second best all of the time. So I was there ready to give up, but I haven’t. I haven’t given up, and why?
Well if you really get down to it, aren’t all of us only second best? None of us will ever come in first in life, only God can do that. So why not be second best? Is it hard to always hear that I am not the one for that congregation. Yes and no. It allows me to know that that place is not the place for me. I know that the congregation has done the discernment of working through the process to find the right fit at that time. The congregation for me is out there. And to be chosen by one that is not the right place will only mean this happens again soon.
And through this process, I have my family who loves me and home and a wife who is the best faith partner anyone could ask for. She has supported me and helped me discern where we are going and what we are doing. She is a rock and a true gift that God placed in my life 23 years ago. I believe that God has called me to this and others have told me again and again they see the gifts. So I know it is not time to give up. God has never given up on me, so I’m not giving up on Him.
Know that we are not made right because of our actions, but because God loved us when He shouldn’t have. He loved us when we were too dirty and stained to be around Him, but He came to us any how and loved us as we are, and since He did that for me, I’m not giving up on what I know beyond the shadow of a doubt He has called to.
I found this picture yesterday, and I believe it speaks why I have not given up, nor will I give up until the call is found. And then I won’t give up on leading God’s people to deeper and richer relationships with Him, and each other.
aSacredRebel 