{"id":31162,"date":"2022-09-10T15:19:22","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/the-answer-for-loneliness-in-ministry\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:19:22","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:19:22","slug":"the-answer-for-loneliness-in-ministry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/the-answer-for-loneliness-in-ministry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Answer for Loneliness in Ministry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Johannes Plenio photo – Pexels<\/div>\n

By Max Lucado<\/em><\/p>\n

All of us will face our share of storms. No one gets through life scot-free. Those of us in ministry are well aware of these realities.<\/p>\n

At one point or another the sky will darken, the winds will rage, and we will find ourselves in a modern-day version of the Galilean gusher.<\/p>\n

John\u2019s gospel tells us that one night, when evening came, Jesus\u2019 disciples went down to the lake, where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum.<\/p>\n

By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. (John 6:16\u201318)<\/p>\n

The hearts of the followers began to sink as their boat was certain to do. Their skin was soaked, throats hoarse, eyes wide.<\/p>\n

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If only Jesus were with them in the boat. If only Jesus had told them to stay on the shore. But He was not in the boat, and He had told them to cross the water (Matthew 14:22).<\/p>\n

Consequently this moment had all the elements of a crisis. The disciples were exhausted.<\/p>\n

This was a backbreaking, boat-bouncing, terror-stirring push and pull of the oars. They were too far from the shore, too long in the struggle, and too small against the waves.<\/p>\n

And Jesus was nowhere to be seen. Have you ever encountered a dangerous, ominous, seemingly godforsaken storm?<\/p>\n

Too far from the shore<\/em>. Too far from a solution. Too long in the struggle<\/em>. Too long in the court system. Too long in the hospital. Too long without a good friend. Too small against the waves<\/em>. Too small and too alone. The storm controlled the disciples.<\/p>\n

Storms can dominate our lives and ministries. Just as we have no authority over the squalls of nature, we have no authority over the squalls of life.<\/p>\n

You may desire to save a marriage, but you have just one of two required votes. You may attempt to restore a rebellious child, but you can\u2019t be sure you\u2019ll succeed. You might pursue good health, but still face a pandemic.<\/p>\n

Storms overtake us. And it sometimes seems they will never end. But then the unimaginable happens. \u201cThey saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water\u2026\u201d (John 6:19, NIV).<\/p>\n

Before Jesus stills the storms, He comes to us in the midst of our storms. He says to us what He said to the disciples: \u201cIt is I; don\u2019t be afraid\u201d (v. 20, NIV).<\/p>\n

The literal translation of what Jesus said is \u201cI AM; don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d I AM is God\u2019s name. We\u2019ve heard this name before. Speaking from a burning bush to a knee-knocking Moses, God announced, \u201cI AM WHO I AM\u201d (Exodus 3:14 NASB).<\/p>\n

Double-dog daring His enemies to prove Him otherwise, Jesus declared, \u201cBefore Abraham was born, I am\u201d (John 8:58, NASB). Determined to say it often enough and loud enough to get our attention, Christ chorused:<\/p>\n