Be sure to check out the previous articles in the Leading Through the Seasons of Life series. Today we are looking at the winter season.
To be honest, the winter is the season I dislike the most. Cold weather and gray days do not energize me. In fact, it’s just the opposite…I just want to bundle up and stay warm and not be busy about life and ministry. It reminds me of barrenness and death.
But without the winter, we won’t have the springtime of new life, the summer of growth, or the harvest of fall. All seasons are essential for nature and for life and ministry. We cannot always be in a quick spiritual growth season. Sometimes we must slow down to hear from God more clearly.
What does the winter of ministry look like? Perhaps major roadblocks have stalemated your work. Does this make you want to just give up? Don’t! Remember that if you do, you do not get to see the springtime! Choose to be an influencer instead. Help others change their perspective from hopeless to hopeful. Show them ways to work through the roadblocks. Or pray together to see if this is a permanent roadblock from the Lord and ask what He wants you to do at this point. Sometimes lesser things have to die for bigger things to be birthed in ministry. (See John 2:24.)
Take time now to ask God for freshness, new direction, and even rest as you wait for the next steps He will give for the ministry.
Ask questions like:
- What is God asking us to lay down?
- What is breaking through the ice of winter to begin new growth?
- What can we learn as a team as we wait and pray through this wintertime of the ministry?
Remember, winter brings forth new life as spring approaches. Don’t miss it! Be patient with the wait. Don’t fear the death of one aspect of ministry. It may just be making room for a new aspect that will be more effective than you ever dreamed to reach and disciple!
Next time we will address the winter of our hearts.
In the meantime, you might want to get a copy of Dr. Jeff Iorg’s book that has inspired this series, Seasons of a Leader’s Life.
Chris Adams is senior lead women’s ministry specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn. Learn more about Chris here.