There are times in ministry when one can feel disillusioned. Whether it’s a relationship that has soured, a misunderstanding, or hurt feelings caused by insensitive comments, we can all relate. If you are a Christ-follower, then you are in ministry.

Henri Nouwen expresses it so well – “The Church often wounds us deeply. People with religious authority often wound us with their words, attitudes, and demands. …There is such an enormous hunger for meaning in life, for comfort and consolation, for forgiveness and reconciliation, for restoration and healing, that anyone who has any authority in the Church should constantly be reminded that the best word to characterize religious authority is compassion. Let’s keep looking at Jesus, whose authority was expressed in compassion.”

Ministry is filled with many joys, and it is a privilege to serve our Lord; however, it is not always easy. There is no avoiding times of disillusionment, at least not in my experience. From feelings of burnout to being misunderstood or dismissed by decision-makers, or from too many demands with too little time, well, you get the picture.

Even on the best days, our human efforts can fall short, and we can either disappoint someone or feel disappointment ourselves. We are most vulnerable when we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually spent. Often, we rely on our strength instead of that of our Maker. It’s not until we remember to cry out to the Lord, who knows our circumstances, that we receive a sense of calm in our souls. We can turn to Scripture and cry out with the Psalmist, pouring out our feelings to God: “But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of Your steadfast love answer me in Your saving faithfulness" (Psalm 69:13).

If you find yourself in the heat of a battle, the Lord your God is with you, and the battle belongs to Him. As Moses addressed the Israelites, he said, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. ... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Being still is the hard part, especially for those of us who have control issues or the desire to “fix” things. Harder still can be the times when we think we are owed an apology that never comes.

So, what’s the answer? We must keep “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Though hurtful things inevitably happen because we are all broken people living in a broken world, they should not take us down or shake the foundation of our faith. God’s love holds us. Our faith grounds us. When we experience deep hurt, we aren’t destroyed, although at times we may be temporarily disabled.

No matter the hurt, we have confidence that we are fully loved, fully accepted, and fully empowered through God’s Spirit to process the pain.

Knowing who we are in Christ Jesus does not put a temporary Band-Aid on our wounds. Knowing God as the Lord of our lives takes us on a journey towards inner healing.

Yet, in our humanness, we all carry the scars of old wounds, and when certain scabs are pulled at, we must process the pain. Who knows more about scars than our Lord? “But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5).

There are times when it is appropriate to try to resolve issues in a godly way. “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ,” (Ephesians 4:15).

We are called into the ministry of reconciliation, so when relationships are fractured, we need to do the work involved to facilitate healing. “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18,19).

When you feel wounded by someone, acknowledge your feelings before God. Then, when you have prayed about it, approach that person and discuss it. Always bring your hurt to the One who knows everything, who has suffered the greatest pains on our behalf, and yet, He consistently offers love, forgiveness, and grace.

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” – (Ephesians 5:1,2).

“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” – C.S. LewisSusan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.