I just passed up a great job offer – what is wrong with me?!?!
I was recently called by a headhunter with a lead on an incredible position at a church. This position would pay me more money than I’ve ever made, in an area of the country that is slow paced but not too far out in the boondocks, in a growing mega church, with a pastor who is looking for someone with my qualifications…and oh yeah, the whole package comes with a house. Incredible. And I turned it down.
I know, I know, it’s crazy. Down turn in the economy, my kids are eating us out of house and home, our house is too small but too expensive to sell in this market, and did I mention I would earn more money than I’ve ever made in my life? Crazy. And there were other great offers and opportunities, both in the area and across the country, but none of them ever felt right.
This particular position, and many of the others, would have been the easy path. I could have gone, used my particular set of skills, then put my brain on auto-pilot and collected a paycheck. It would have been the path of least resistance. But God doesn’t always call us to walk the easy path. Many times we are called to walk the difficult path, the “up the hill in two feet of snow” path that eventually leads us to discouragement, doubt, and even defeat. When God called us to plant The Sound He definitely chose this kind of path for us. This has not been the easy path but in fact has been an uphill battle at each step.
Even as I write this my mind is on many of the things we are facing that we’ve never faced before in our lives. We feel kind of blindsided and like Job we’ve been asking “what did we do to deserve this?” But like the book of Job teaches, there isn’t always a “why” to suffering – or one that will ever be answered for us. Bad stuff just happens, even when you’re doing everything God has asked you to do.
Are you suffering? Are you facing things you’ve never faced before? Have you lost your sense of hope? Jesus told us that “in this world you will have trouble but take heart because I have overcome the world.” Cyndi and I are learning that our prayers shouldn’t always be “fix it, God, fix it” but instead, “God, hold me closer because this really hurts.” And He is holding us…and He’s waiting to hold you, too.
PM,
The decision to follow your Lord instead of your passions, desires, or personal goals is quite admirable. It is amazing how God uses the “worldly things” to test our devotion to Him, the Master and Savior of our souls. Thanks for being vulnerable to share with us your heart, struggles, and devotion to Jesus. I am honored to serve with you during this season of planting.
amen brother. success in ministry isn’t just making the nice paycheck or even a house. it’s hearing what God has told you to do and doing it. that’s success. i love you man.
That hits pretty close to home right now.
Wow Marc, I cant tell u how much your last blog meant to me. I remember over a year ago, when I was going through the worst time in my life, God told me “Let go and let God”..its my new motto in life now. Thanks for your words!