Going through the fire

[AndyM]

A year and a half ago I was running a ministry, now the Lord has taken me into a season where I am at the bottom again. I have to submit to people who are younger than me and possibly have less experience. This must the most difficult time I have ever been through! This afternoon I allowed me mind and flesh to rule and I ended up feeling sorry for myself and eventually sinned in my mind. I felt anger and frustration and allowed myself to feel hard done by and I questioned what I was doing here. I feel like I have gone back to step one in this season and its so frustrating!

I do know that the Lord needs me to learn total submission so that I can move forward. I feel like I'm suffering 3rd degree burns here . Oh man, I need prayer!!!

[childeye]

A year and a half ago I was running a ministry, now the Lord has taken me into a season where I am at the bottom again. I have to submit to people who are younger than me and possibly have less experience. This must the most difficult time I have ever been through! This afternoon I allowed me mind and flesh to rule and I ended up feeling sorry for myself and eventually sinned in my mind. I felt anger and frustration and allowed myself to feel hard done by and I questioned what I was doing here. I feel like I have gone back to step one in this season and its so frustrating!

I do know that the Lord needs me to learn total submission so that I can move forward. I feel like I'm suffering 3rd degree burns here . Oh man, I need prayer!!!

We all need prayer, but it sounds to me like you already know the Truth of God. He is good and the fire does not harm anything but the Ego. That is a good thing, thanks be to God. Thanks be to God. Be thankful.

[joi]

I agree with being thankful. God scourges alive those He loves, so you know where you stand with Him.

I find reading the Psalms and just singing my own praises to Him are very uplifting of my spirit.

[nebula]

Prayers for grace and a love for the people you work with and under.

[He giveth more grace]

A year and a half ago I was running a ministry, now the Lord has taken me into a season where I am at the bottom again. I have to submit to people who are younger than me and possibly have less experience. This must the most difficult time I have ever been through! This afternoon I allowed me mind and flesh to rule and I ended up feeling sorry for myself and eventually sinned in my mind. I felt anger and frustration and allowed myself to feel hard done by and I questioned what I was doing here. I feel like I have gone back to step one in this season and its so frustrating!

I do know that the Lord needs me to learn total submission so that I can move forward. I feel like I'm suffering 3rd degree burns here . Oh man, I need prayer!!!

The Lord uses adversity, remember Job, lost every thing that meant anything to him, his sons and daughters and wealth, but the Lord taugh him something, and the Lord restored all that he loss. Sometimes we build our lives by our own strength and God has to knock down our building in order for him to build his life for you dependent upon trust in him.

[Guest]

Praying~!

[enoob57]

Prayed.....Love, Steven

[~candice~]

A year and a half ago I was running a ministry, now the Lord has taken me into a season where I am at the bottom again. I have to submit to people who are younger than me and possibly have less experience. This must the most difficult time I have ever been through! This afternoon I allowed me mind and flesh to rule and I ended up feeling sorry for myself and eventually sinned in my mind. I felt anger and frustration and allowed myself to feel hard done by and I questioned what I was doing here. I feel like I have gone back to step one in this season and its so frustrating!

I do know that the Lord needs me to learn total submission so that I can move forward. I feel like I'm suffering 3rd degree burns here . Oh man, I need prayer!!!

Being in ministry isn't about making it to the top, it is about serving others.

Mar 10:43 But it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

Mar 10:44 And whoever of you desires to become first, he shall be slave of all.

Mar 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.

I pray the Lord continues to work in your heart.

[Larry 2]

Dear brother Andy M, I have posted the story at the bottom before on some thread somewhere and it may have even been to you, but it seems applicable here. In Acts Chapter Nine Ananias was told "15 He (Paul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

You have no idea the end from the beginning, but God is revealing it to you as you walk with Him. In the way Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:25-30 said:

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;

26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;

27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

On top of this Paul wrote be revelation in 1 Corinthians 11:1. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

I may not remember exactly how this went, but this reminds me of the story of a missionary come home from years in a foreign land. When he arrived there were none to greet him, and at the same time there was a band playing nearby for the arrival of President Teddy Roosevelt home from a cruise somewhere.

The little old and very tired man was feeling pretty low and asked the Lord why things were as they were more or less. He was destined to seeking shelter in a flop house, while the president in coming home would go to nothing but comfort. The missionary had given his health, and his life to giving the gospel to those in need, and yet this is all he was afforded? He heard a voice as clear as it could be in his very being; "Son, you are not home yet."

Praise God, He is coming soon and His reward is with Him.

In Jesus' name - larry2

[AndyM]

Dear friends, thank you all so much for the responses. I know that ministry is not about titles or positions and that we are to serve God and others in whatever position He places us.

Coming into this new season has made me aware of a number of things hidden within me which the Lord is using this season to deal with. I see now that I have a major problem in submitting to people younger than me and I know that this is linked to pride as well.

Praise God He has started dealing with these things already and I thank Him for bringing me to this point where I can see these things and not be blinded any more.

Now I welcome the fire, although its painful, I want to be purified and prepared for the exciting and awesome plans that the Lord has for the future.

God bless all of you.