What’s the point?
Discouragement.
They don’t turn up like they used to. The numbers are dwindling. The effort was dismal. The performance was dreadful. Maybe I’m not effective anymore.
The enthusiasm is just not there anymore and perhaps I’m the one who is stopping things progressing, Maybe I don’t belong here anymore and it’s time to move on.
They said nice words but there was no substance behind it. It’s the polite way of saying thanks for showing up but we will forget everything you’ve said in about five minutes. They’re probably too familiar with me now, so whatever I have to say will not have any effect. Maybe I should just keep silent and let them carry on as they’re used to carry on.
It will be alright. No one will miss me anyway. They said I was not going to succeed anyway. They said I wasn’t all that anyway. They said I was destined to fail. Maybe it was a waste of my time to start with and what’s the point anyway?
What is the point?
Maybe the point was never about gaining large numbers. Maybe the point was not about people’s familiarity and resistance being the cause to switch off. Maybe it was never about pepping people up like their fizzy drinks in need of more fizz.
Maybe it is to persevere in the calling because of the one that called you. Maybe it is to leave a legacy of faithful service because you’re a beneficiary of faithful service. Maybe it is to keep on keeping on because one person will actually take it on and listen and be encouraged just for one day. Maybe it is because it is not for the praise of men, but for the glory of God who smiles and accepts it as a pleasing offering because it comes from a heart desirous to humbly submit and delightfully obey whatever the circumstances.
It won’t grab headlines, it won’t go viral. It will be misunderstood and ignored. It will not be what many remembers about you. It will still be an offering to the Lord for the benefit of others to help them in their journey of life – whenever that is finally received and accepted.
It might be done through tears of hurt and rejection, but done nevertheless with all that is within.
There might have been a time when things stopped and there was no activity because of the disappointment and discouragement. But the one who called still calls and assures and reassures that His presence is with you as you fulfil the calling. He can pick you up. You can start again. You can start and keep going.
Keep going because He is with you. Keep going because He is for you. Keep going because He who called you will sustain you. Keep going because He is your ultimate reward and He will not give up on you even when you give up on yourself. Keep going because it will not be in vain.
Maybe that’s the point.
[This entry was inspired by this piece I read from my brother, David. We don’t agree on the source, but we agree that there’s a source and I’m grateful that his writing has reminded me of the importance of returning to the source to get the point.]
(Photo by Nicolas Cool on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 
An encouraging post. What we focus on is very important. There is a cause and it’s author.