When I look back over a ministry spanning more than half a century, I would have to enthusiastically say that God has been so very good to me. The opportunities He has provided me, the challenges He has seen me through and the thousands of wonderful people who have blessed and enriched my life along the way have made me the person I am today. The real truth I have discovered is that you cannot be a blessing to someone else without the Lord turning it around, doubling it and sending it back to you.

My life has been enriched by both victories and positive outcomes, as well as by disappointing and discouraging results. Each day in the real world forces us to deal with the good, the bad and the ugly. Each day, we choose how we will respond to the disappointing life experiences.

I have found in my own life that the enemy gets the upper hand if I allow him to put me on the woulda-coulda-shoulda treadmill and keep me stuck there.
When I go to my knees and plead with God to help me put the situation into perspective, or I turn to an “abundance of counselors” (including my husband) and talk it over, I gain the victory and peace returns to my heart (Proverbs 24:6).

Do I make blunders or say or do inappropriate things? You bet! I am still a fallen human. I am still adjusting to a culture and language not my own.

Do I have to eat humble pie and apologize sometimes? Most assuredly! And like King David, I have to go to the Lord, ask Him to search my heart, know my thoughts and set me back on the right path with Him.

Another challenge in my ministry journey is dealing with situations where we invest highly in a person, only to see them turn and walk away from the biblical principles they once embraced. Or perhaps a person never gets around to making a complete surrender to the Lord, regardless of the multitude of prayers and nurturing that we provide.

And there have been times when I have felt called to a program or ministry and have given it my all, only to see that others make choices that are unsupportive and contrary. Where should I turn? What does a committed follower of Christ do with disappointment and moments of discouragement?

“When trials come to us, let us not dwell upon the greatness of the difficulties and feel that we cannot have joy in the Lord. It is true we will have changes of feelings. There will come to us times of discouragement and depression. But shall we live by feeling or by faith? When our brethren and friends speak unadvisedly, and cause us grief, let us not be cast down. Let us remember that we are in a world of trial and grief, of sorrow and disappointment. When these experiences come to us, they should drive us to Christ. If they do not, we meet with loss.” (The Upward Look, page 252).
“God knows it is good for men to tread a hard and humble path, to encounter difficulties, to experience disappointments, and to suffer affliction. Faith strengthens by coming in conflict with doubt, and resisting unbelief through the strength of Jesus.” (Signs of the Times, June 15, 1876, paragraph 5).

Very early in my life, someone I loved and appreciated much said, “Don’t get stuck with this one [day]—the best days of your life are ahead of you.” This good counsel applies at every stage of life. Yes, I have lived past the “three score and ten” by several years now, but the best days of my life . . . on into eternity . . . lay ahead of me. So I refuse to let the enemy tempt me into getting stuck here.

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