Passion is often defined as a powerful or compelling emotion or feeling. You will see it used in a physical or sexual context to describe uncontrollable emotions. A murder will be referred to as a crime of passion. Or passion will be used to describe the most intense feelings along with the emotions of love or hate.
I've had some interesting conversations in the last week talking about passion in ministry with others. One friend was describing this urgency she felt in women's ministry. She was quick to describe ministry and reaching others for Christ as a huge passion in her life. You know that kind of passion for people and ministry when you can't stop yourself from caring and reaching out to others. It is so much a part of who you are that there is no way to hold back.
Another friend describe a loss of passion in her life. She was wondering if any ministry she was doing made a difference at all. As she talked about life and ministry, I could also relate the sense of loss she felt. It wasn't that she didn't care or that she wasn't still reaching out to others, but there was something missing.
Personally, I've been on both ends of the passion spectrum. I've known what it was like to be involved in ministry and it was as easy as breathing. I've also known the feelings (or lack of feeling) when nothing seemed to matter or make a difference in my own life or in the lives of others. Given the choice, most of us would choose the first option, the passionate, thriving ministry.
However, the reality is that most of us will have the other days as well. The days when ministry is hard. The days when ministry is a struggle. The days when there is no passion. The days when we just don't feel it. What do we do on those days? How do we continue persevering through the tough days when honestly we would rather be doing just about anything else? And that is what I asked my friend, "How do you keep going? How do you keep ministering to others when you don't feel the passion?"
"In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content....I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:12-13) Wise advice. Don't depend upon your feelings. Don't depend upon your emotions. Don't depend upon the response of others. Don't depend upon passion. Look to Jesus for the strength to minister, to care, and to love when you feel like it and when you don't. Without His strength it is only my human effort and it will eventually come up empty.
How would you rate your passion today? How is your passion for ministry? What has helped you to keep going when the passion for ministry was missing? What word of encouragement or scripture would you give to others who are in the middle of a dry season? How can those in girls' ministry support one another? How can we help those who are looking for passion in their own lives? How can we direct them to the greatest demonstration of passion, the Passion of Christ?
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