It’s Not Futile

I was pushing a wheelbarrow across the discipleship training school base next door on my way to pick up some dirt for our garden. I don’t remember the exact thought I had, but I do remember I stepped on a big crack on the sidewalk. The instant my ankle almost twisted, I was snapped out of that thought.

“It’s not futile.” I heard.

You know how sometimes you don’t realize you’re thinking something until the LORD brings it to mind?

I wasn’t necessarily in a bad place, but I realized that I had this feeling of futility about my endeavors. And the LORD was dealing with me about it.

I know that along a long enough timeline, we all wonder if what we’re doing is worth it or if we’re capable of any beneficial result. You may be in that moment right now as you think about your ministry.

You have to know that anything worth doing is going to be met with resistance. There will always be moments where you feel futile, where you wonder if you’re getting ahead or not.

I don’t know if it’s helpful or not to remember that “The Lord knows all man’s plans; he knows that they are futile.” ‭‭(Psalms‬ ‭94:11‬) I think that helps us be humble. It reminds us we’re human - frail and limited. It’s the perfect seedbed for Christ’s strength to produce a great harvest!

And when you pair it with this gem given to us through our brother Pablo:
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” ‭‭(1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:58‬)

Now we are going somewhere! And let this encouragement (written to a Christian community much like yours) breathe strength into your tired bones:

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬

If God has intended to do something through you, don’t you think He’s going to do it? Like until it’s done?!

I love the way The Passion Translation says the last thought, “Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!”
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So next time you’re just walking along your daily path, ask the Holy Spirit to address the junk in your thinking so that you can persevere, thrive, and lead well. We need you to!

Love y’all!

-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)

It’s Not Futile (Nº 279)