When Discouraged, I Ask for 30 Minutes of Grace

© The Navigators. Do not use without Permission.

Every Gospel-worker faces discouragement in funding, including me, especially in my early days of ministry.

I thought sending an appeal letter to my friends would raise my budget in a week or two. Nope. 🙁

So, I changed course and began meeting face-to-face with potential partners, but I “chickened out” when it was time to ask. Plus, my skills in describing my ministry were mediocre. I was nervous and talked too much. Not one person said “yes.”

But I kept stumbling along, slowly learning to ask questions, listen—and stop chickening out! I was surprised when a farmer in Eastern Iowa said “Yes!” My first yes! 😊

However, even today, many years after those disappointing first appeals, I sometimes get discouraged or become demotivated in funding. But I have learned that my discouragement always begins with a disappointment. Usually when someone says “no” or fails to follow through on a gift promise.

Here’s what I do today:

• Identify the disappointment—specifically. Sometimes it’s receiving a “Heck, no!” But other times it’s because of a setback in ministry or an oil spot under my car. Bringing my disappointments to the Lord helps me take the next step.

• Calling: I ask myself: “Has God called me to full-time ministry?” Yes. He is touching people to support me even if I can’t see His Hand at work.

• Praying Through Scripture: Praying through Scripture promises or favorite verses overrules my feelings of failure and brings me back to objectivity.

• 30-minutes of Grace: I define grace as: “Supernatural enablement to do what must be done whether I feel like it or not.” I confess to the Lord, “I’m discouraged, I need Your grace for the next 30 minutes as I make phone calls. Then I’m going to stop! Please supply the grace I need.”

…within minutes God’s supernatural enablement takes over…

I start out mechanically, but within minutes God’s supernatural enablement takes over, and I find myself enjoying wonderful conversations and getting appointments. Suddenly two hours pass!

“Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”   —Hebrews 4:16

Prayer: Father in Heaven, sometimes I want to give up on funding. Please give me “grace to help in my time of need”—starting with 30 minutes. Amen.