If you are in the ministry in any capacity – full time, part time, whatever, then you have had your share of downs. You have a plan for a new and exciting program and everyone gets sick, or no one cares. That’s a bummer! We have been in several churches, and sometimes we just don’t see the results we were hoping for. I believe whether your church runs 10 or 10,000 there are discouraging times of many shapes and sizes. In my short ministry experience of 10 years, we have moved several times. We never left under bad circumstances, but we were always hoping things would be even better at the next location. This I know: there are problems everywhere! I often think of this as the “grass is greener syndrome”. I get that way any time things get rough! I think “so and so has a church of ___ (whatever number). Or “So and so has this better or that bigger than we do” It LOOKS really good from 100 or more miles away! But if we zoom in, we see the problems that person is facing, and then the weeds start to show!

It is in these times and only these times, that I focus on the negative! I think about the drawbacks to the climate of that “other place” maybe it’s freezing 9 mos. of the year, maybe it’s 115 degrees in the summer and humid (we have low humidity and a mild winter climate! yea!). Or whatever is different. I think about the possible problems that that church might be facing that we are not – needing to build a building (that’s good, but hard!) – having large debt, and on I go thinking of all the negatives that I can! It makes my problems seem smaller, and my blessings so much bigger and better! After a good look at the negaitves, I have successfully cured myeself of the “grass is greener syndrome”. Maybe you could try it!

I have a feeling we all go through this, whether in full time ministry or not!

I thank the Lord for helping bloom where I’m planted – whether I’m in a desert or a rain forest!