Suffering Before Blessings
I was reminded this week of a senior missionary’s advice to me many years ago, “If you are seeing blessing in ministry, that means someone has come before you and suffered.” I understood the truth as soon as he said it but I did not fully digest it until recently.
When asked to speak at the Builsa/Mamprusi Easter Convention, I had no idea that over 800 people would attend. Beyond my wildest dreams, there are now churches and church buildings in areas where we used to simply meet under trees. In addition, churches have popped up in various village locations that I never imagined.
Pam and I and the children were in the Builsa area from 1992-2001. While I returned for short visits, it has been 25 years since we lived there. It was like a dream come true when people approached me this week and said,
“Do you remember me? You preached at my wedding. My wife and I have been happily married with four children.”
“My daughter is grown and attending school. She would not have survived if you did not take her to the doctor that night.”
“Remember when my wife was not able to get pregnant and my father was going to force me to marry again? You invited Sister Pat to talk with us about pregnancy and it worked – now we have five children and one grandchild!”
“You waited in the bush to help me take my wife from her home on our (traditional) wedding day.”
I had forgotten all of this, like it was another lifetime ago. Hearing these stories again, it was like a pleasant dream – until it wasn’t. Drenching my shirt with sweat during the conference in over 100 degrees heat, I remember the hot days when there was no electricity or fan. Back in the day, we used to struggle to sleep at night due to sweating the pillow through. Now, there are rooms with AC – until the power goes out. I visited some friends who were sick with illnesses I have never seen before. Blowing out a tire on the pot hole filled rough roads on the way home, I was reminded of the difficulties of travel once again.
Looking back, I remember the missionaries and nationals who came before me and suffered. In addition, there are national workers continuing to minister in places that are resistant, difficult, and that would try the perseverance of even the best of us – for over 25 years!
For leaders, if you are seeing God’s blessings, remember those before you that suffered and give thanks. This is not time to thump your chest with pride; instead, this is time to give thanks for the faithful ones before us.
If you are still not seeing God’s blessings yet, take heart. It may take 25 years but your suffering will water the ground for God to bring blessings to people. It has been said, “We often overestimate what we can do in one year but underestimate what God can do in ten years!” It may even seem like simply a dream at this moment but continue to faithfully carry out the calling God has given you – one sweat drenched day at a time.
Dr. Jay Moon speaking at the Easter Convention in Ghana, West Africa