What if Nobody Shows Up?
I was looking forward to a spiritual formation group meeting I was leading. Facilitating intimacy with Jesus for others brings me such joy!
For this meeting I had prayed about what to share with the men and believed that God gave me a message that would help us to open our hearts to the Lord Jesus and one another. I had prepared a handout with a Soul Shepherding exercise to guide our time of prayer and reflection. I had arranged our room to meet in. Most important of all, I had submitted the meeting to Jesus to lead and had prayed for each group member by name.
The time came to gather with my friends at the feet of Jesus! Everything was ready. I sat and prayed as I waited for people to arrive. I waited and prayed. I waited and prayed some more. No one came! I met with Jesus by myself for those hours.
Disappointment
Have you ever experienced a disappointment like that? The pastors and other Christ-followers I minister to have. Probably you have too.
Maybe it was an open house to help you sell your home. Or a party. You scheduled the event and set aside the time for it. You cleaned and prepared your home to make it nice. But no one showed up.
Maybe it was a Bible study group, class, or prayer meeting.
At times like this in the past I've felt discouraged and depressed. I've felt rejected and insignificant. I've felt impatient, frustrated, angry, sorry for myself. I've felt like I wanted to give up the larger effort that the meeting or event was an expression of.
In recent years I have learned not to respond that way. Of course, I may still feel disappointed in these situations and I may even start to slide into some of the other more negative emotions, but I don't spiral down into depression or react with anger. I don't question what God has called me to do or my capacity with his help to carry that out. (That's already been confirmed and re-confirmed years ago.)
I knew that when nobody showed up for the group I planned it wasn't about me --- it was about them and their schedules, their stress, their ambivalence.
Jesus experienced people disappointing him. Again and again he gave all he had to people and he was criticized, rejected, abandoned. Nobody --- not one single person --- understood what he gave his life to, why he came to earth, and why he suffered and died on the cross. Throughout his lifetime the people he ministered to rejected him and his mission. Even his family, friends, and disciples didn't really get what he was about until after he died.
Why do we think things should go better for us? Why do we think that people shouldn't disappoint us?
Sweet Intimacy with Jesus
When I am disappointed by people or circumstances I am learning with the great Apostle of the Lord to focus on the one thing that really matters and that nobody can ever take away from me: “the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” Truly, with Paul, “I want to know Christ... and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings... and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8, 10-11).
In whatever trial I find myself --- whether little or large --- I want to consider prayerfully how Jesus experienced a similar difficulty so that my faith can be refined and purified as gold in a furnace. In doing this I have discovered a sweet intimacy with Jesus and many wonderful new insights about the holiness of my Lord and how by relying on his grace I can become more like him, more loving toward God and others no matter how painful or unfair my circumstances are.
In ministry and in all kinds of event planning we focus too much on numbers. Years ago when I talked with Ray Ortlund about the retreats and other gatherings I was leading he always told me: “Don't worry about numbers --- focus on Christ in your midst. If God is not there it's not a big meeting. But if God is there it's HUGE!”
It's okay if nobody shows up --- Jesus showed up and he is all you need!
More Soul Transformation
Having Ray Ortlund as my spiritual mentor for many years was one of the greatest blessings in my life. It's not too late for you to learn from him! I've shared some of his most precious lessons in Be Devoted to Christ like Ray Ortlund.
My All in All is a favorite little prayer inspired by Psalm 16 that will help you to find your contentment in God alone.
On my Soul Shepherding Blog during Lent I'm sharing a series of short devotionals from the Stations of the Cross.
You can seek Christ's face with me on Facebook and Twitter .
Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org
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