A Season of Struggle

Well, as most of you know, I am in Maui now. I arrived a couple weeks ago. I was fully certain that I was walking into a paradise with struggles and challenges but I found I was more walking into struggles and challenges in paradise.

From the moment of my arrival, nothing has gone as previously planned, even my pick up at the airport. From that moment forward, every second of everyday has been filled with intense challenges, unlike any I have experienced before.

I haven't started my job with the church yet, but I'm planning on it shortly. My days have been filled with a different type of relationship based ministry and various personal struggles. I am in the process of being stretched, molded, and refined. I'm coming to the end of my own abilities to cope, no matter serve. It is a wonderful place to be. It is now that the Lord can use me. It is now that the Lord can truly work through me.

I'm not alone in my struggles. Most - actually, it is ALL - of the church leadership right now are experiencing various types of severe personal struggles. Each individual is turning to the Lord. Various friendships are being strengthed with visits for prayer and fellowship. Each person, despite their own struggles, is taking time to step out and serve and pray for others.

God is fully present as well. He is not holding back His grace. Our church moved last week off the beautiful beach and into a historical theatre in the slums of this island. It was our first Sunday there and we had a great number of people. Our worship time was the best I have ever experienced in a corporate setting, not because of the music but because of God. Many were in tears, all were singing and praising the Lord as if the sun had been shining on them all. Through the worship leader's personal struggles and brokenness, we were taken to a place of sincere and true worship.

This is a beautiful season we are in. It is a season of much suffering, much pain, hurt, exhaustion and even desparation, but yet this is our chance to truly worship the Lord, not for what He has done but for who He is.

Pray for me and the leaders in the church. Pray that we see God in all of this. Pray that we seek Him always, in all things, despite all that is happening. Pray that we don't grow weary. Pray that we don't stand in our own strength. Pray that in this season, we begin to see the Lord in a new light, in a new way and come into greater relationship with Him.