Mourning Loss of Ministry

“The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.” (Job 29:13 AV)

Job’s testimony of himself was that he was a caring and generous person.  In particular, he shares that those who were hurting often found comfort by his counsel and encouragement.  Job was an incredible man who changed the world for the better.  He used his life to glorify God and minister to others.  Now he sits as the one in need.  It is interesting that Job received none of what he had at one time he had freely given to others.  Somehow, I don’t think his personality changed all that much despite the deep time of adversity he was facing.  I don’t think it mattered to him that his friends were mistreating him.  We know this because he offered sacrifices for his friends, lest the LORD inflict them with His wrath.  It was Job’s nature to do what he could for others.  Those above are the widowed and the dying.  Job went out of his way to help those in the deepest of needs.  One has to wonder if we are the same.

There is no greater trial of faith than death.  Either dying or surviving the passing of another.  Especially when the one passing on is the closest relationship one might have.  Being that precious saint who can ease pain is a great gift.  Serving as a chaplain for a local hospital was a particular blessing.  Never have I grown so much in the LORD is such a brief amount of time.  The experiences are countless.  Crazy things can happen.  But the most precious moments are also part of the experience.  One particular time I was called to a room of a patient who was departing.  There was no family.  The healthcare team had disconnected this patient from all the tubes and such.  They wanted this dear saint to pass into eternity with as much dignity as possible.  As my ministry partner and I entered the room, the saint lay there semi-conscious.  We asked if he wanted prayer.  He said he wanted us to read his favorite scripture passage following the prayer.  We prayed for God’s mercy on the saint’s body.  We asked for a pain-free rest.  We asked the LORD to prepare his heart for his home-going.  We prayed for God’s love to be evident and His presence overwhelming.  Then we read Psalm 23.  We did not get through the whole passage before he passed.  There was no struggling for breath.  There were no convulsions.  This saint passed into eternity as though he had simply fallen asleep.

This is no credit to my partner or me.  All glory goes to God.  The blessing it was to help this dear saint face the unknown was more of a blessing than words can ever tell.  Job did this regularly.  He didn’t do this because he was called into the ministry.  He didn’t do this because he was an ordained minister or trained Chaplin.  This gift requires compassion and understanding.  It requires following the leading of the Holy Spirit and listening to those who need ministry.  It is the ultimate act of kindness, second only to leading someone to Christ.  It is the total emptying of one’s Self for the total needs of another.  There is no remuneration.  There is no compensation.  It is total charity for the sake of someone who can never repay what was done for them.  It is awesome.  Job knew this.  And he knew that in his present state, he could be that blessing for others who had deeper needs than his own.  Job was more concerned with the lack of ability for others than he was his own personal loss.  This is what made Job a great man.