A Difficult Step of Faith

Sometimes in our lives we are called to do something that isn't easy. We are called to do something uncomfortable. We are called to take a step of faith that may seem daunting. News Flash: Following Jesus isn't always easy... It's not always comfortable... but it is the most rewarding decision one will ever make, each and every time.

Over the course of the last few months, my wife and I have been processing a very difficult decision. Late last summer we felt that God was telling us to resign my staff position at our local church. What had started as a volunteer position, had quickly become so much more than that. At the beginning of last year I was added to the paid staff team. This position was for a very small amount of hours, but I found myself committed to giving everything I could to the position. I found myself working far beyond what I was paid to do until eventually my entire life was centered around the growth of a church. This doesn't sound like all that bad of a thing, but God began to work in me to reveal that this had become a problem.

See when one's focus solely becomes the growth of a church, it muddies the waters of what we are actually called to do. The importance of the local church is massive. The community found through a local body of believers is in fact critical, as seen throughout Pauls letters to various churches. However we are called to so much more.

Jesus loved people. Jesus loved people to such an extent that people questioned him everywhere he went. Over the course of the last few years, we have come to discover that our life purpose is to meet people where they are and to be an example of Christ in every way we can. We aren't perfect by any means, but we find the most joy when we are given the opportunity to love others in a very deep, real, and intentional way. So many have loved us during difficult times. God worked through those people to show us love when we needed it most. Through those experiences we were surrounded by people who exemplified the love of Christ. They were truly, maybe even unknowingly, allowing themselves to be used as the hands and feet of Jesus. This in turn, has not just become something we do for others, but it has become our life mission. To love others right where they are. To be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Over the last year this has grown to an even deeper level. We have found ourselves sitting in the hospital with people countless times. We have made late night trips to the houses of friends to sit with them after they received horrible news. We have walked with people through difficult steps in their faith journey. We have trained leaders and discipled many. The closer we grew to God, the more we realized that this is truly all that matters; to be the hands and feet of Jesus in every situation to the best of our ability.

Last August we made the decision to resign our position. We were asked to stick it out through the end of the year, and reconsider after a trip to Germany that we had coming up and we agreed to do so. During that time we became very busy, and had the excitement of a new building reignite a commitment to this particular local church. The church itself, again, became the focus. We began to more intently seek counsel from family members who are in ministry outside of the area. We had several conversations, and prayed relentlessly. Every single time we were led to the same decision. We then prayed intently that God would make clear our path, and reassure us that this was the decision we were to make. We kept feeling like it wasn't clear enough, so we put our heads down and kept moving forward.

Looking back, God was speaking to us through so many things. He had made the path clear many times, we simply chose to ignore it, or found a way to write each thing off to something else. The easy solution for us was to stay. And we continued to take the easy way out over and over and over. At the start of the year, instead of following through on our decision to just ride it out til the end of the year, I accepted even more responsibility within my staff position. This increased workload opened my eyes to even more things I would have to come to accept if I were to continue serving within this position. Ultimately, an unfortunate conversation happened, that led me to feel confident that my commitment to this position would not be in my best interest and that God could use me in an even greater way if I made the difficult decision to step away. I came to realize that my focus wasn't on what I felt God wanted it to be. The worst part, I wasn't happy. Serving God can be difficult at times, but ultimately, it should bring happiness and joy. Instead I found myself putting on a happy face. It was no longer authentic. Don't get it wrong, our passion and love for God had grown to new heights, but parallel to that, I no longer looked forward to the work I was doing within my position.

New Life is an incredible church. New Life and the people that make up the body of believers that call it home, truly saved our lives. I will not speak negatively of the church, it was there for a season of our lives, when we needed it the most. We met God in a real way for the first time there. We learned. We grew. We were challenged. We dug deeper. Most importantly, we learned to allow others to love us, to love ourselves, and then how to truly love others. When we found New Life, I was still one of the most arrogant, conceited individuals you could ever meet. Three years later, I am leaving completely changed. The person I have become today would not be here if it wasn't for God working through New Life and we are forever grateful for that!

One of the hardest parts of all of this has been accepting that I am not in control of what God has planned for me. I had to completely accept that I had no idea what door was going to open next. I had to trust in his plan for our lives and make this decision without a concrete plan of what is next. That is completely opposite of my natural inclination. If I'm going to step away from one thing, I want to have what's next completely planned out and ready to go. God was calling me to hand over this control directly to him. To trust that his plan for me is perfect. Finally, after countless times taking the easy way out, I had to follow his will, which had been so clearly communicated to us countless times.

What's next? Everyone wants to know. I've been asked this question at least a couple dozen times over the last two weeks. To be honest, I don't know. I know that I am stoked to go to Zimbabwe this summer and speak to teens throughout the country about who Jesus is. I'm stoked that a group of couples asked us to start a new bible study so that we could continue growing together. A bible study that began this week, and will be centered in who Jesus was when he was on this earth, who he is now, and who we are called to be in and through him. I haven't been more excited about a study before and I am looking forward to the journey this study takes each person on.

Know this, and it shouldn't come as a surprise, but God has already begun opening doors. We know we have a calling on our lives, and we believe that is becoming more clear each day that passes. As long as we continue to seek him before all else, he will clear the way. I know that his plan for my life is perfect, and I am so thankful that he continues to bless us immensely during this time.

I want to leave you with one thing.... No matter where you attend, no matter where you serve, ALWAYS remember ONE thing. JESUS IS EVERYTHING! He isn't just a great story. He isn't just our savior. He isn't just our redeemer. He is truly EVERYTHING. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and not a single person goes to the father unless through Him. I challenge you no matter where you are, to dig deeper, and love harder. Be the hands and feet of Jesus in in every way you can to every person you can. That person in front of you at the grocery store, you may be their only example of who Christ is that day. That family that is going through a difficult time. You may be the person that makes them realize that Jesus still loves them. Love harder. Be the hands and feet of Jesus whenever you can. Be unashamed in your pursuit of Him.

We will still be local, and we have no plans to leave at this time. In fact we feel God calling us to Gardner in a brand new way. We don't know exactly what he has planned for us, but we know that through Christ we are going to continue to pursue Him and pursue others with absolutely everything we have within us.

"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6 (NKJV)

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)