Hope when Christian work feels weak and ineffective

We have the huge privilege as the Individual Partners team at Stewardship to partner with many Christian Workers and Bible College students. 

We get to hear stories of what God is doing in, and through, you. We have a bird’s eye view of thousands of ministries, witnessing the hand of God at work from 10,000 feet up. We process the forms you fill out about your roles, we read letters from your organisations and support groups, we guide you in Support Raising Training and we chat with you on the phone.

We get to hear of people setting up community centres in the UK and of those travelling overseas to share the gospel. We hear of people creating accessible biblical materials and those reaching out to the discouraged or hopeless. We hear about those teaching children in Sunday school about Jesus and those going to the streets to preach. In it all we see God at work, changing hearts, minds and lives; one person at a time.

Sometimes when we talk to you, we also hear the struggles you’ve been through. We know that there can be a lot of discouragement in Christian work. It can sometimes feel like three steps forward and two back. We know that we have an enemy who works against us, one who seeks to undermine the work we do, often leading us to feel that it is weak, or small and ineffective.

God is at work

But we also have a glorious God. A God who is good and powerful and has chosen to work in and through the weak and broken things of this world to better display His infinite glory. In God’s kindness, He protects us from boasting in ourselves, relying on our own strength, and somehow thinking that we, not Christ, are the ones who ‘make it all happen’.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians, whose work for the gospel seemed neither effective nor glorious, these words of encouragement:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”” 1 Corinthians 1:27-31 (NIV)

So, if it feels like there is not very much to shout about in your corner of Christian ministry, remember that the work you do is just one small part of what God is doing all over the world. We are all to boast in Christ and what He is doing. Christ is the one who both saves us and others. We simply seek to serve Him.

If you work in Christian ministry and don’t yet have a Partner Account for Individuals, join with thousands of Christian Workers who are part of the Stewardship community, doing their bit to extend His glory. Find out more about how we can walk alongside you and encourage you in your ministry.