This past month brought some real difficulties…even
betrayals. AS has been in the past 40 years, DD and I pulled together and
sought the Lord. On one particular day, the enemy and my emotions were working
over time to convince me that I am not useful to God and maybe I should just
quit! Some may have never felt this and may even think less of me for it,
however over the 40 years of ministry I have been through, the vast majority of
believers I have counseled have experienced the same issues. Two points I would
like to communicate.
First, you are in good company: Thomas Goodwin, C.H.
Spurgeon, John Henry Jowett, Alexander Whyte, Martin Luther…Giants in the faith
all struggled with this, just to name a few…OH yes one more:Jesus
Mark 14:32–34 They came to a place named
Gethsemane…and He began to be very distressed and troubled…He said to them, “My
soul is deeply grieved to the point of death.
Second, If you will turn to Him, He will meet you where you are
at. That very day…not before…I received this message from a brother I discipled
in Manila for several years. This is what he wrote:
Dear Pastor (Daddy) Nate,
I grew up without a picture or a model of a Father, one of my biggest struggles
in getting married was that I was afraid of becoming just like my dad. I knew
nothing about how it is to be a Husband nor how it is to be a father. But God
used you tremendously in my life, through you I knew how it is to sit down with
a dad to watch a movie, talk about life and relationship. Through you I witnessed
how it is to be imperfect and yet strive continually to be a godly husband and
father. Through you I knew how it is to struggle and come out victorious.
Through you I knew how is it to be loved by a dad. You are special to me and
God made it to be, I love you like my true dad and I have no other prayer but
for you to fulfill God's calling and design for you that hopefully one day God
will welcome you in His kingdom with arms wide open saying "welcome my
son, enter in the joy of your Father". Thank you for being a dad to me,
happy fathers day. Love you Dad Nate.
My Dad never misses anything, never ignores my feelings or
struggles, and always knows exactly what to do to help me through every
situation. No matter what you are feeling right now, your heavenly Father sees
it all and will be there for you…if you let Him. 