Be sure to pass along God’s goodness – that is ministry.
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada. And when Pat was at her mother in law’s funeral, she heard the pastor talk about a ministry of suffering. Pat never considered that suffering could be a ministry, and so she asked my opinion. And immediately, I thought of 2 Corinthians 1:4 that “God comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from Him.” You know, suffering is often so very private; no one quite experiences the sort of pain you do. But the comfort God pours out on you is anything but private. God encourages us in our troubles so that we might turn right around and pass on that comfort to a friend who is hurting. That is where the ministry kicks in. So whatever trial you are facing, yes, draw on the grace and comfort of Christ, but then be sure to look for someone else to whom you can pass it along, because that is ministry.
© Joni and Friends