Do Not Be Moved!

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58

For two years, I was involved in a homeless ministry in Los Angeles, California. Every Saturday, I would wake up early and drive 55 miles with my children to LA to walk the stinking alleys and pass out bologna sandwiches to many seemingly thankless individuals. On my very first visit, I met a woman who had been a homeless alcoholic for over 16 years. For some reason that I cannot explain outside of the inner prompting from the Holy Spirit, I felt particularly drawn to her and her situation. My kids and I made special effort to see her on each Saturday even searching for her if she weren’t in her usual location. Our consistent visits for over 1-½ years and the deliberate nature of our ministry to her allowed me to build a trusting relationship with her and during the next several months I began advocating for her recovery. Life circumstances caused us to eventually lose touch with her, though. The last time I saw her I was delivering a bologna sandwich to that same alley where we’d met. Since that time, I have often wondered if all that I had done had been in vain, yet I’ve never stopped praying and believing that with God, her life could be renewed.

Recently, I sent the ministry office in LA a copy of our family’s Christmas newsletter. Within a couple of weeks, I received a reply that she had been living in a sober living residence for almost 2 years. Wow! I've since written to her. In her response letter she wrote, "I am very close to God…I am so grateful for my life today and am so grateful to you for everything you did for me…Thank You. I love you so much!"

Many people questioned why I spent so much time working with people like her. It was hopeless and tiresome work without evidence of bearing fruit. Acts 5:38-39 says, …if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men… From human eyes, the situation was hopeless. Thankfully, I stood firm and let nothing move me from the work of the Lord, because not only has it brought about the healing of a human body and soul, but it has also resulted in praise and glory to God.

Ministry is sometimes a tiresome and seemingly unpromising process. Our job is not to work toward our own goals which often prove unrewarding, but to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord. We may not always see the fruit of it with our own eyes, but we must continue to trust that it will not be in vain.

Prayer focus:
Do not be discouraged if your work or ministry seems wearisome and hopeless. It took 18 months to earn the right to influence the life of my homeless friend.I was often tempted to give up when it seemed like she was complacent. Yet the Lord was viewing the situation from the ‘crow’s nest’. He saw the beginning, established the course and will see it through until she reaches her final destination. Stand firm, trust Him and give yourself fully to the work of the Lord. It will not be in vain.

© 2009 by Stephanie French. All rights reserved.