Honest Thoughts from a Pastor

If you’re like me, you love hitting the “easy button.” You like simplicity. You hate drama. You want things to move quickly and be out of the way so you can relax. If you are a follower of Christ, you may want the easy version of Christianity. I hate to break it to you, but there is no easy way to follow Christ.

When I hit my most difficult point in my last pastorate, I was preaching through the book of Acts. At the worst of it, I landed in the latter part of chapter 14. The 23rd verse says, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” At that moment in time, God was clearly saying, “Matthew, this isn’t going to be easy, and I’m not releasing you from it yet.” Seven months later, God showed me I could carry them no further. They quickly merged with another church and are experiencing the growth and outreach they need on that property.

Doing God’s will isn’t easy. When God showed me He wanted me to move on from that precious group of believers, it hurt. It hurt my ego that I was not going to be the one to help lead them to growth. It hurt that I was no longer going to be having weekly fellowship with people I dearly love. I had to let go because it was for God’s greater glory and the good of the future of Oasis Church.

You may be reading this and feeling bummed out. Life has dealt you a hand full of difficult cards. You wonder if you’ll ever get a break. The Apostle Paul talked about something difficult in his life. In 2 Corinthians 12, he called it his “thorn in the flesh.” He asked God 3 times to remove it. Here was God’s answer – “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” While many of us would have rather had a thorn removal, God told Paul that His grace was enough to carry Paul. The grace of God that was enough to carry Paul is enough to carry you.

God never promised an easy Christian life. Some of us may even limp to the finish line. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Keep going! He who started the good work will be faithful to complete it.