Ministry Is Messy
Have you seen her? She doesn't wear the latest fashions. Her clothes hang limply masking her shape. She is not a ruffly kind of girl. Her hair isn't stylish. Frequently it looks like she forgot to wash it so she either pulls it back or rolls it on top of her head as a last minute thought. She has little if any makeup, no showy colors or crisp eyeliner to draw attention to her eyes. Doesn't she know how to look her best?
Have you heard her?
Sometimes she talks too much other times not at all. Her words are raw, truth sent forth with the tip of a sword. She doesn't know how to watch her words. She ignores common etiquette on what is socially acceptable to talk about in public. Her words are heavy, careless and can sting as is if she dipped her words in poison before letting them go. Doesn't she know people don't talk that way?
Have you felt her?
Her presence is insignificant, if it weren't for the lurking aura of inadequacy. You try to pretend you don't notice her as she holds back from the crowd. She looks around, uncomfortably, obviously wanting to fit in. Out of nowhere she springs into the center of a conversation. She over-reacts, is hyper-sensitive and pushes for affirmation. It is so awkward how her interactions sway between being non-existent to obnoxious. Doesn't she know people don't relate to her comments?
She is unpredictable.
Her quiet, pleasant, simple-minded ways can turn as passing through a revolving door to swift, edgy, and loud. She cries when others don't. She speaks when others wouldn't dare. She is emotional, expressing herself as though she was the only one in the room. Those around her feel sorry for her. Something must be wrong. She is one of those people who can be toxic if you try to get close. Doesn't she know she comes across as unstable?
She has real needs!
She longs to experience God's grace and love. In this world, many people are hurting. Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching, preaching the gospel and healing. But in seeing the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd (Matthew 9:35-36 NKVJ). Jesus has compassion for her, and so should we.
Is God calling you to be a friend to hurting souls? If you answer, "yes" to His call you may be amazed, as God opens your eyes, how common it is that wounded people cross your path. You might be just the friendly touch of Jesus she needs in her life. I have learned in daily "casual" ministry that God allows me to be part of what He is already doing in a person's life. I am His messenger and it is not up to me to lead anyone to salvation or a certain point of action.
I water, drop seeds, help shine light but God is totally in control of the growth or increase. I praise God for giving me the opportunity to partake in being a laborer in His kingdom. It is enough for me to work the gardens of hearts He sends my way even if I seldom see the fruit or blossoms that develop. Jesus taught His disciples,
"The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37-38 NKJV).
He spoke these words just after He taught in synagogues, preached the gospel of the kingdom and healed sickness and disease among the people.
The plentiful harvest does not only need to hear the gospel preached, but they also need to be taught and healed. Could you be a shepherd to a few weary, wounded sheep? Helping people find answers when they hurt is messy work. No soul is ever the same, just as no plot of soil is identical. Different weeds pop up in different places at different times. The very composition of the soil is very different, as are the sources of the wounds and the current life circumstances. Therefore, healing has no pattern or order that needs to be followed. The Gardener and his workers must deal with what surfaces, even if it is a mess.
Soul work takes constant connection with the Great Physician to provide the Bible wisdom, life experiences and calming words needed for each specific hurting person. Even with best intentions, I know that I can always leave a mess for God to have to re-work and sweep up long after I am gone, but this should never stop you from trying to help. Frankly, we will never come to a point in sanctification that we are 'ready' to get messy.
Ministering to others helps you grow in maturity. Through my experience of stepping out in faith to work one on one in spontaneous situations, I don't ever push a person for a response. Instead I allow God to move upon the person when His timing is perfect. It is our responsibility to rest in the fact that God is Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord that Heals. We simply are a sister walking alongside another in God's spiritual journey. Take comfort in knowing that God will be ministering to you as you step out into the messy work of ministering to others.
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