In my last
blog post I quoted from Glenn Bleakney’s article, “Three ways to discern God is
moving you in a new direction,” I talked about anxiety and depression. Today I
want to share with you on the subject of Stress.
Have you
ever hit a wall, been stopped dead in your tracks by a disruption of your plans,
experienced a depleting of your resources or a dissipation of a relationship. It
may be God’s way of moving you in a new direction. It was in my case. Personally
I experienced all three in succession in 2014. Anxiety, depression and stress are no strangers
during such a time.
I like to
claim December 2014, my 37th year in ministry as the 12th
month that became a month that redeemed the year as I experienced a release to
freedom and a reversal of fortunes. (2 Kings 25: 27-30).
After
spending 6 months in Edmonton operating a private counselling practice and accepting
referrals from the Church we attended, we made a decision to return to Pastor’s
Inn Ministries’ home base in Woodstock NB. PIM is a ministry that we have been
officially operating since 2013. From there we set our sights on returning to
our home province of Newfoundland to do ministry. In December plans were
finalized and in January 2015 I started a part time position as an Employee
Assistance Plan (EAP) Counsellor which provided the income to support PIM and
my schedule of three days on and four days off allowed me to do pulpit supply
on Sundays and Christian Counselling on my off days, from an office provided by
Mount Pearl Pentecostal Church.
Our Son
Steven, Debbie and the grandchildren Lillian and Harrison welcomed us with open
arms. We stayed with them until a furnished house became available to us in St.
John’s. It was a great opportunity to respond to needs and also to reconnect
with friends and family. Then we were faced with a major decision concerning
the future of PIM which was very stressful. Although ministry opportunities
were many and needs great it was not financially feasible to move back to
Newfoundland and operate PIM. The company I worked with offered me a permanent
full time position and encouraged me to relocate. The “fly in the ointment”,
was that I would have to return to full time secular employment. 38 years ago I
left secular employment for full time ministry. Would I now have to make a
decision to leave ministry for full time secular employment? The stress piled
on. I loved what I was doing, but PIM was my calling. Dena returned to NB. to a
job she was offered in July. Three provinces away from each other we wrestled
with making a decision. At the last minute before accepting the contract to be
a full time EAP counsellor, an offer came to me to become an “interim” minister
at Boom Road Pentecostal Church in New Brunswick just 3 hours from Woodstock.
Since we had already considered doing interim ministry as a part of PIM we took
it as God moving us in this direction.
Needless to
say our son Michael, Terri-Lynn and the grandchildren, Elliot, Emma, Alexandra,
Charlotte, and Benjamin who live in NB are glad to see us back. Ruthie already
has plans in place for a visit from London to the place she calls home.
Ministry and Family are two things that we highly value.
For us 2015
has been great and we are so blessed to minister to a gracious and kind
congregation as we conclude one of the most enjoyable years in ministry. Quite
the contrast to 2014 and its anxiety, depression and stress.
In
concluding I now return to the topic of stress.
Some stress
is needful to make us productive, but too much stress can cause serious
physical, emotional, and behavioral problems. Like anxiety and depression it
can be debilitating. I am so thankful to be released from the anxiety,
depression and the stress of 2014.
The Apostle
Peter encourages us, Cast all your anxiety on him because
he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7. The Psalmist reminds us, Cast your
cares on the Lord and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22
On the practical side there are three things you can do as a
preventative measure or to aid in recovery from anxiety, depression and stress:
1. Eat healthily
2. Balance Sleep
3. Exercise regularly
Until next
time,Blessings!
Pastor
Harold
