|
Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "We've A Story To Tell To The Nations"1
(Lyrics) |
2 Corinthians 4:8-10 – We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. (ESV)
Pastoral visitation has always been one of my priorities. Early in my ministry, I made an appointment for a regular pastoral visit with John and Helen. The first 15 minutes were filled with niceties, but then, Helen said that she wanted to tell me something that I might not want to hear. At this point, John slouched down in his chair as if to disappear from the room.
Helen looked me in the eyes and said, "David, your sermons are boring, I mean BORING. You stand up there, read every word from your notes and don't connect with the congregation." I was crushed and struck down. My first inclination was to offer a prayer and get out of there. We talked for a few minutes, and not meaning it, I thanked her for her honesty and left.
I came home and told my wife that I was resigning from ministry. We lived in a railway town, and I decided to go down the street and talk with Waddy, who worked for the railway, about becoming an engineer and making a lot of money driving trains. I was distraught and saw myself as a failure to God and to my congregation. How many others felt the same way as Helen?
However, I did not go down the street to Waddy's house. Instead, I went to my study to tell God that I was done. As I spent time with Jesus, He showed me that Helen was right. He had called me to preach the Word, not to read a prepared text. I slumped into my chair and cried out to Him for help.
It was not long afterwards that I had an experience with the Holy Spirit, Who began to free me from my text and to help me to deliver my sermons instead of reading them.
We are struck down, but not destroyed. I lived through today's verses and came out manifesting the life of Jesus. During our lives, we are afflicted, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. The good news is that Jesus is always with us to pick us up and turn what may seem to be a disaster into a great victory.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for being Who You are: our Saviour and Lord. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for bringing the Word of the Lord alive in our lives. If we find ourselves struck down by some affliction at this time, we ask You to wrap Your loving arms around us and hold us. Lord Jesus Christ, we trust in You. Amen.
Forward this devotional Share on Facebook
About the author:
David Hooper <theskypilot@pm.me>
Prescott, Ontario, Canada
Send your feedback to the author
David, glad you didn’t join the railroad.
Thanks for the encouraging words, David.
Hi Sandra.
Thanks for your encouraging response.
Thank you, David, for opening your heart and sharing such a powerful testimony.
Thank you, David. You may have improved a lot of sermons today. The Holy Spirit can do wonders!
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Right on. Exactly. What a help and encouragement your words have been.
Thank you, thank you.
Hi David. I enjoyed your devotional today. How did you change your approach to preaching after your religious experience? Thanks again.
Wow! That’s not just faith, that took a lot of courage. Maybe that’s what I’m needing just now – a mixture of faith, trust, and courage. Thank you for being so open. God bless.
Good morning, David,
Thank you for this timely reminder!!
Good for you also for going to Jesus and not to Waddy!
God bless.
David – Praise the Lord that you followed the path God had prepared for you. It’s not easy to deliver a God-inspired message without becoming an entertainer. The Holy Spirit is essential to discern, exactly as you shared.
Merci David, for the revealed lessons contained in your devotional. … give and take of pastoral visitation, willingness to change, trust in Holy Spirit. A. W. Tozer wrote that a good book is one forced out. An eloquent or persuasive sermon may also arise from the belly.
Good morning,
Thanks for sharing a real challenge that you did not abandon but used it to grow. I always write my sermons but do try to inhabit them and connect as best I can. Blessing this Sabbath.
Hi David,
Been there and done that. I did not resign either and I am so glad you did not resign either. We both know the amazing freedom that comes when listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit rather than that of the unholy spirit.
God bless you.
David,
Sometimes Honesty takes great courage, and the reaction takes honest assessment and, hopefully, change.
Helen was a voice of honesty, and you learned a priceless lesson.
Congrats to Helen for sharing and you for hearing.
Dear David,
Thanks so much for your devotional today. Isn’t it so wonderful that God cares so much about us and the plan He has for our lives that He doesn’t let us go easily? He is so good.
I like your email address. Are you an actual pilot? Or does it refer to the One who pilots our lives?
May God continue to bless you as you serve Him.
Thank you, David, for this devotional today. That was quite an experience you had to face getting those words from Helen, but it is evident the Lord was already in action overseeing your situation. He definitely had you “wrapped” up in His loving arms and carried you forward in a very positive way. We sure can be amazed at times of the plans the Lord has for us. Blessings for this special writing and may you continue your devoted service to our loving Lord.
Good morning, David,
I need to hear this many times because I am always very judgmental about myself. It takes courage to write about our failures and inspiration to know that others will learn from our challenges. I really liked in your prayer that you ask Jesus to wrap His arms around us and hold us. We all need that acceptance without judgment. When we feel that love and comfort, we are able to reach out and help others. We are God’s children, and He is always waiting for us to reach out. I am glad you didn’t give up and reached out for guidance. Blessings.
Good afternoon, David!
Thank you for your heartfelt message today. I actually liked Helen’s honesty. From my experience it is usually after a Sunday service that most people go out into the parking lot to tear down the pastor’s sermons if they didn’t like it. Helen’s feedback was what was needed, and it could have been a God whispering. Honesty can make us feel like we should give up. I am happy that you didn’t and that you grew from it. This is good news. I am big on giving compliments when it is needed and I often would say to my pastor after the service “you have done it again” your sermon was for me, and you have answered the questions I wanted to ask you (or) your sermon was excellent today”. All of this took place after the service while in line to greet him after the service.
David, Helen helped you that day. Thanks be to God!
Courage from Helen and courage to change on your part.
Thank you, David, for this testimony and for opening your heart to us.
Yes! Thank you for sharing this message. Exactly. If we sincerely follow the Lord and seek His way, we will need correcting and perfecting. Too often it seems like complete failure and no way forward. It’s just change that needs to come, let something go and embrace a new way forward. Thank you.
What an amazing journey! To have continued after that criticism must have taken tremendous willpower, but consider the results!
May you continue to have success in your ministry, which has The Word as its foundation, and perhaps write MORE inspiring devotionals!
Appreciated the length of your devotional too, short and to the point!
(BC)
Thank you for sharing the honesty of Helen about your preaching. I also thank Helen for being so honest, it could not have been easy for her.
Good for you Helen. You could have just stopped attending, but you did not take the easy way.
I am happy it did not turn David away from the ministry, but he did the right thing. That was wonderful David. Hey Helen, how are his sermons now?
I am 90 and most of the ministers I have heard preach are excellent, especially Dr. John A. Ross, the father of our Rev. Robin Ross who oversees this devotional. But there has been the odd minister preach that I did not care to listen to again. Thankfully they were not in my Presbyterian Church.
Thank you so much for sharing this.
(British Columbia, Canada)