Five Ways to Prepare to Minister as Things Get Uglier

How can we be here for each other when the world spins out of control?

In March of 2019, in the days surrounding the death of my father with whom I was very close, I experienced a life-altering trauma. The details of my trauma involve other people’s actions and so, I won’t share them, but it crippled me emotionally, physically, and functionally for months.

With the support of trauma-centered counseling, the guidance of mature Christians, and the love of my family and friends, I had just started to experience recovery when the world slammed head-first into the pandemic. “Normal life” faded from my rearview mirror long ago.

When my life got ugly, when I was reeling from breathtaking cruelty and grief, when my heart was shattered, God was present for me. He sent help, comfort, and wise voices.

The enemy, however, also sent emissaries. God is merciful. But Satan exploits every weakness and when he smells blood in the water, he sends sharks. Some of them come dressed like fellow believers. The spirits of Job’s friends live on because I’ve heard them on the phone.

Christians I believed would provide help, pulled away, or worse, they offered platitudes and bumper sticker comforts better suited to throw pillows than as first aid for severed spiritual arteries. Spiritual leaders I thought might provide guidance offered sarcasm or avoided me all together because the situation was “so complex.” As if, Jesus wasn’t the designer of DNA, the inventor of skin that heals itself, and the mind behind – well, our very minds.

But, when I was most wounded, calls, visits, or notes came from mature believers and godly pastors unafraid of complexity, ugliness, and pain. They spoke biblical wisdom into my suffering and presented realistic estimates of long-term healing.

They didn’t question my faith because someone had turned me into a victim. They didn’t avoid me even when they felt inadequate because they knew what I needed was Jesus and He was in them. They didn’t mollycoddle me with platitudes and weren’t afraid to warn me off wandering down the sinful rabbit holes of self-pity, bitterness, and unforgiveness. They came alongside and that’s the reason I’m still breathing today.

This year has been relentlessly traumatic for many of us and it isn’t letting up. In the weeks and months ahead, we’ll likely see death tolls climb, escalating violence, failed businesses, wide-spread anxiety and depression, and we can count on at least one group of voters facing bitter devastation following the results of November’s election.

What then can we offer one another as the world spins out of control?

First, each of us needs to read Jesus’ story for ourselves. We can’t rely on others to tell us about Jesus but need to see Him at work for ourselves. Reading and rereading the gospels could be our daily habit so that we will know what Jesus would do now because we know what He did then. We will hear His voice above the din of deception because we’ll have heard it over and over in Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Those who came alongside me did so because they knew Jesus would. They overcame discomfort, they’re own feelings of inadequacy, and fear to go where Jesus would go. (Luke 1:3-4)

Second, Jesus faced down the devil with the Word of God and so must we. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He could have fashioned any weapon to defend against the evil one, but what He did was respond with God’s Word. An anemic or passing relationship with the Bible will not stand us in good stead in these times. Those who counseled me best demonstrated a deep and thorough knowledge the Bible and were thus, able to apply it to a situation that was complex. It’s never been easier to access sound biblical teachers. It’s not enough to own a dozen Bibles, we must immerse ourselves in one. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Third, Jesus lived authentically and cultivated an inner circle who witnessed His life up close. Peter, James, and John, along with Mary and some women of means saw Jesus as He was. One of the most powerful testimonies about Jesus is that those in His inner circle were willing to suffer and die for Him. There was nothing false in Him. We must develop close relationships and let them see who we really are. We must allow an inner circle to minister and speak truth into our lives. Letting people in keeps us honest, humble, and true. (John 11:5-16)

Fourth, Jesus readily acknowledged that there is evil at work in this world and that some who speak for God are only out for themselves. We have to stop being so nice about evil and hypocrisy. Yes, we’re all sinners. We do all fall short. But, some embrace evil like a second skin. Some cloak themselves in the church while using it as a covering for indulging in the worst kinds of sin. Some allow their brokenness to open them up to be used by the devil to hurt and destroy other people. Jesus welcomed sinners willing to come into His light. But He also cast out demons, talked about the fires of hell, and referred to false religious leaders as a brood of vipers. We need to be unafraid to set boundaries around evil, speak frankly about sin, and to speak openly about how some voices who purport to speak for the church are lying imposters. (John 8)

Fifth, Jesus followed the agenda of His Father and didn’t allow the politics, the people, or the pressing needs of the crowd to sway Him from it. When Satan fails at keeping us from salvation in Jesus, he changes tactics. He presses into us with every need on the planet until we are so distracted, we become sidelined, paralyzed, and ineffective in our faith. Our Father brings order in the midst of chaos. We have daily assignments, but we must present ourselves to Him to receive them. Jesus was perfect and daily He drew away to be alone with God. This was how He knew when to stop healing and move to the next town. When to hide Himself from those trying to kill Him and when to march straight into Jerusalem. (Mark 1)

He is here with us. We can be present with one another. Just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had one another for strength to face the fiery furnace, and then, when they entered the fire, they found they were not alone. So, will we face these times together and walk with Jesus through our fire.

But it won’t be easy and we have to pay attention.

Are you ready to be one of those who minister in the midst of trauma or will you take the easy way out?

Decide now because it’s about to get ugly, my friends.

Five Ways to Prepare to Minister as Things Get Uglier https://t.co/GXZzDFeVLd #traumainformed #Jesus

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) August 9, 2020