Who is Sufficient for These Things?:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness."-2 Corinthians 12:9

I was ordained into Gospel ministry on Friday, September 12th at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Pastor Jeff Hill (Julia’s uncle) and one of my mentor’s travelled down from New Jersey and preached my ordination sermon. He began his sermon with a question, “who is sufficient for these things?” He proceeded to walk through several daily scenarios highlighting the difficulty of Gospel ministry and the flexibility needed as a Pastor. I politely listened as he was talking but to be honest I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. In the days, weeks, and months since Pastor Jeff’s sermon I have found myself constantly asking, “Who is sufficient for these things?”

Every day I am learning first-hand about the difficulty of Gospel ministry and the flexibility needed as a Pastor. In a typical week I find myself making hospital visits, going out to lunch with fellow Pastors in my association, attending funerals, preparing sermons, Sunday School lessons, and blogs. I am meeting with committee’s to make changes to our constitution and policy & procedure manuals, evangelizing those who don’t know Jesus Christ, meeting with deacons to cast a vision for our Student Ministry department, talking to an older couple about the dangers of living together before marriage, praying, visiting students in local high schools, attending sporting events, putting up posters/taking down posters of various activities in the church, choosing Sunday School curriculum, picking out new mats for the entrance way of the Sanctuary, updating our webpage, Facebook and Instagram, and visiting the shut-in and the home-bound. Every week I find myself asking, “Who is sufficient for these things?”

My job is constantly changing and at times it feels as if I am going a mile a minute and attempting to juggle various activities. While I enjoy working hard at times I am outside of my comfort zone and gifting. It is during these times that I meditate on 2 Corinthians 12:9, “my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” It is during the times when I am outside of my comfort zone and gifting that God is most glorified. It is when I am weak, that God is able to show Himself strong. I am thankful that though in my own power I am insufficient for these things, God is sufficient and He will provide me with wisdom and power to accomplish His calling on my life.

In conclusion, I am learning to stop relying on myself and instead rely on the one who called me. I am learning to trust God that He is sufficient to provide wisdom and power to be a Godly Pastor.