Do you ever get a case of "ministry blah"? Never heard of this nasty sickness? I define the "blah" as "a consistent discouragement with your place of service—often accompanied by repetitive complaining." It can be further defined as "feeling like your ministry is useless, that you're not supported, and that no one else cares."
Unfortunately, my immune system isn't always strong enough to fight against this. Sometimes I think I've shaken it, and the next week it hits me again. I think I've won the battle, and soon I've lost all my energy for ministry.
I know that I'm not alone. A friend recently requested, "Please pray for me and my ministry. Satan is attacking me, and I feel like I've lost my purpose." I see people with the symptoms weekly. I hear the complaining. Obviously, the Devil loves to see us struggling through this "blah." He celebrates when we give up on our ministry. He wins when we quit.
It's likely I'll come down with this nagging illness again soon, and no doubt you will battle it, too. I have some ideas that we can use to combat the "blah" when we're infected.
Remember Your Original Passion
What's your story? Was there a time in your ministry when God worked something out and put you in the right place at the right time with the right people? Do you remember proclaiming "this is where I'm called to be" or "this is where God wants me to serve"?
A few years ago, God led me to start a ministry to at-risk elementary students. I received this passion from the Holy Spirit. God brought others with the same passion to join me. He opened doors. I was the first to ...