Hearing God's Encouraging Voice

A friend shared this story:

"Many years ago the Lord spoke to me very clearly, in a way I thought would never happen to me.  We were in ministry, and had been for many years.  We went through a very difficult time with one of our children who seemed bent on rebellion and going their own way.  Every thing we tried to get them on the right path for the Lord failed.  I was at my very end, and one day as I was walking, I told the Lord we should just quit the ministry as we had no business serving him in this way.  God let me speak my piece, and then very soon He impressed on my heart "OK, the enemy is having his way with one in your family.  If you suggest to your husband that you leave the ministry that will make two victories for him."  It woke me up to the fact that God knew all about this and would work it out in His time which He has.  Never, never give up...just keep praying!"

Sometimes it seems easier to just give up, whether in a ministry, work, a relationship or hobby. When things get frustrating and don’t go the way we planned, it is hard to keep on going.

This can be especially hard in a ministry we know God has called us to.

Many years ago, before my husband was a pastor, he was asked to take over as a Bible study teacher for a class at our church. After a couple of months of teaching, one of the men in the class came to our house. He handed Vince a large envelope and said there was a letter inside for Vince to read. After the man left Vince opened the envelope. Inside was a fifteen-page typed out letter detailing everything the man did not like about Vince, the way he taught, the things he said and the way he was leading the class. Fifteen pages!

Vince was devastated. Even though most of the letter had to do with the man’s personal preferences and not major doctrinal points, Vince felt like a failure. We didn’t know if this man represented the whole class and everyone felt the way he did, or if it was only his opinion.

The next morning Vince woke up resolved.

 “I’m going to quit. If they don’t like what we are doing, they can have their class.”

Before I had time to think about how to respond to him, these words came out of my mouth,

“Then, you are going to let Satan win.”

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“If you quit teaching the Bible now, Satan will win. He doesn’t want you teaching the Bible.”

Vince did not quit and continued teaching that Bible study class for 10 years. He has been a pastor for the last six years. We are thankful the enemy did not win that day.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”  Colossians 1:11-12

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Have you ever had a time when you knew the enemy wanted you to quit something that God called you to? How did you respond? Please share in the comments below.

This is day 22 of the write31days.com writing challenge. To read the others in this series click the topics below.

Day 1: Take Off Your Sandals
Day 2:  God in the Grocery Store
Day 3:  God in the Grocery Store - Part2
Day 4:  Peeking During Prayer
Day 5:  How Do We Know God's Voice?
Day 6:  A Young Mom, Toddler Toys and Hearing God
Day 7:  Hearing God When Making Decisions
Day 8:  Lining Up Those Ducks
Day 9:   Hearing God for Our Kids
Day 10: God or Genie in a Bottle?
Day 11: The Perfect Day to Hear God
Day 12: Hearing God in a Crisis
Day 13:  7 Ways to Test an Impression
Day 14:  Remote Assignment
Day 15:  God's Silence
Day 16:  Hearing God While Dating
Day 17:  Hearing God Bible Verses
Day 18:  What Others Say About Hearing God
Day 19:  Hearing God Through Distractions
Day 20:  Hearing God as a Child
Day 21:  Hearing God in Confusion
Day 22:
Day 23:  Hearing God on a Tractor
Day 24:  An Email Confirmation
Day 25:  Do You Really Want to Hear From God?
Day 26:
Day 27:
Day 28:
Day 29:
Day 30:
Day 31: