What to do when you are getting beat down.

This week has been RIDICULOUS!!  I don't know where you may personally stand on Satan's involvement when things go bad, but I believe there are problems we create for ourselves (the Bible describes as consequences for our sin) and problems Satan creates for us (yep, you guessed it, trials).  While I know I create enough mess in my own life, this week has definitely been a Satan-created week of trouble, church wide.

Here's just some of the scoop:

1. Both our middle school and high school meetings have been bombs this week.
2. Both speakers at our meetings prepped, prayed, planned, and practiced (a little alliteration for those who need it) a ton.  They were ready.  Both tanked in their deliveries.  The senior high one was a gospel presentation from our most evangelistic leader.  Still fell hard on its face.
3. We had a student show up under the influence at middle school.
4. We had a fight at middle school youth group.
5. I personally had three guitars quit working 15 minutes before worship.  Later, when I worked on one of them, it was completely missing one of two electric leads (wires) that have to be in there for it to play.  I had played it two days earlier.  Now it had ceased to exist.  Gone.
6. I had three male leaders not show at the last minute for senior high, all of which are committed, faithful, knowledgeable, well trained, leaders.

This is just some of the some of what we faced.  I could add several more lists for what is going on in families in the church that I am aware of, what our children's ministry has faced this week (just as bizarre), or our worship ministries.  It keeps going and going and going.

In my understanding of the Bible, and the worldview it creates, we are under attack.

Okay.  That means God is working.  It doesn't mean we are special, or doing anything extraordinary.  The attack isn't about us.  It's about God.  Satan doesn't really care about us.  We're pawns in his way.  It's about God.

After senior high, students continued to face book and text their leaders about how God was working on their hearts, and how they need to do more to reach their friends. WIN for God.

At the end of middle school, in one of our sixth grade girls small groups, the leader asked if anyone would like to pray for the group.  Of course, there was silence.  One girl spoke up, said she wanted to, but didn't know how.  Our leader got to explain to the whole group how to pray, the girl lead in prayer, and prayed her heart out.  It was beautiful.

God is blessing our ministry in so many other ways.

Its all Him.  It's always all Him.

I have spoke to some other friends.  They're hitting a wall this week too.  So, if you are being faithful, you are following His lead, and you're getting sucker punched left and right, then look up.  It's not about you.  It's about Him.

It always is.