Am I All Here?

“Wherever you are, be all there, live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”- Jim Elliott, 1927-1956.

Philip James "Jim" Elliott was an evangelical Christian who was one of five missionaries killed while participating in Operation Auca, an attempt to evangelize the Huaorani people of Ecuador.

My wife and I served in youth ministry for thirty-three years. I must admit there were times where I had trouble following Jim Elliott's advise.  I didn't want to be there. Whether it was a conference or retreat, a small group discussion, or a one-on-one discipleship appointment, there were times when I just wanted to go home. Sometimes I just wanted to be somewhere else. I’m not proud of this. I'm just being real.

Maybe it was burn out, or just the boredom that comes with repetition.  Maybe it was my flesh fighting against the Spirit. Maybe I was tired.  It really doesn't matter what the cause.  What matters was the solution. 

If you had asked me, "Has God called you to this ministry?" I would have said, "Yes, absolutely!"  If you had asked, "Do you love teenagers and have a sincere desire to minister to them?" I would have said, "Yes, most of the time :)."  In other words, the majority of the time I honestly felt that the situation was indeed the will of God.  I just needed the added fortitude and discipline to be fully engaged.

Galatians 6:9 (ESV)

9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Over the years I have learned a simple way of handling my emotions when I feel I want to withdraw from a situation that I honestly feel is the will of God for me at that moment:

1. Stop and ask yourself, "Do I honestly believe that what I am doing at this moment is in line with God's call on my life?"
2. If it is, I tell myself, "This is an opportunity to love God and obey Him at this moment by focusing my attentions to the people or project at hand."
3. I ask the Lord to fill me with His Spirit according to Ephesians 5:18
4. I trust God for the power to truly embrace the moment and give it my all.

I've found this "self-talk" to be helpful in a variety of everyday situation as well:

• When important meetings go way too long.
• When someone you love is telling a story with far too many details.
• When your children/ grandchildren are out of control.
• Any time you want to live in the moment but feel pulled away.

      58      Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 15:58.