7 Joy Killers in Ministry

One of the most powerful things a Christian (or any human being for that matter) has is JOY…

Scripture says in Nehemiah 8:10 that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Yet there are many things that seem to rob us of the joy we have in the Lord - especially for those involved in ministry. Here are seven joy killers.......

#1 - Comparison - If you compare yourself to other ministries or other churches then you will always be in some sort of depressed mode–there is always someone else out there who is seemingly growing faster or being more creative. Compare yourself ONLY to the vision God gave you.

#2 - Critics - If you hyper focus on them they can seem larger than the world…my advice, don’t swim with the sharks, don’t eat yellow snow and don’t listen to people who don’t love you and desire nothing more than to tear you down!

#3 - Being Busy - There are so many people in ministry leadership who feel like all they do is spin plates…and that one day things “will just get better.” To make matters worse–we now have devices that we carry that make sure our schedule is always in front of us AND that we are always accessible.

#4 - Pride - Daniel 4:37 is so true! Trust me, I know! Anytime I’ve ever thought, “Dang I’m good,” God always brings me down a level…OR FOUR!

#5 - Loss of Perspective - Whenever I think that I am more concerned about the church and ministry than Jesus it always causes stress and anxiety, which negates joy! Remember–it is HIS church and HIS ministry!

#6 - Lack of Faith - Whenever I desire comfort more than obedience I always know that something is not right! Hebrews 11:6 is SO true!

#7 - No Growth - Whenever I stop reading, listening to other teachers and don’t network with other leaders I both feel alone AND I rob OAG of the collective wisdom of other people who are much wiser than me. When I feel the pressure of having to come up with every new idea–it ALWAYS robs me of joy!

So.....the answer?

1 - Keep focused on God and the vision He has given you for OAG and your minstry.

2 - Keep your nose in the Bible and your heart toward heaven.

3 - Grow, grow and grow. Challenge yourself and refuse to become stagnant and sit still.