Personal Construction

Intro

Stresses of Ministry

Church Growth

People Pleasing

i.e. Covid

Weight of everyone’s pain

Expectations

Part Time vs Full Time

Non-constructive criticism

Stresses of Life

Financial (VA)

Family issues

Moving

Unresolved Grief

Bottled up until I just broke apart

Mark 14:34 NLT

34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

How should we react to someone that is going through this?

Empathy over sympathy.

Job 2:11–13 NLT

11 When three of Job’s friends heard of the tragedy he had suffered, they got together and traveled from their homes to comfort and console him. Their names were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. 12 When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief. 13 Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and nights. No one said a word to Job, for they saw that his suffering was too great for words.

Change The Question

Change from “If there is anything I can do?” to “What would you want me to do for you?”

Mark 10:51 NLT

51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

If we are going through this, what should we remember?

We are never alone.

Robert Rogers - Leave No Man Behind

If you find yourself alone, then the battle is over and we have been defeated

Romans 8:35–39 NLT

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So many messages reminding me that I am Not Alone

Being lonely and being alone are too different things

You are Not Alone

The Road to Healing

Counseling with The Rest Initiative

Cautious with big decisions

Board and District Accountability