Some pastor once said, “The ministry would be great if it weren’t for the people.” Of course, that’s a tongue-in-cheek remark because ministry is all about people. If there were no people, there would be no ministry.

But truth be told, the people you are trying to help are often what makes the experience of helping them very difficult. Have you found that to be true in life? People are messy. They struggle. They don’t do what they’re supposed to do. They don’t even do what they tell you they are going to do. They are fickle and frail and sluggish. They are fallen human beings. And the temptation is to just say, “Forget it,” and walk away.

But God has a different course for us. He says through Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5, “And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.” Beloved, there are people all around you who are struggling, and God urges you to assist them in the way their struggle necessitates. If they are sinning, admonish them. In other words, they need to be rebuked and warned for the wrong they are doing and then instructed in what is right. If they are timid, encourage them. They need a cheerleader to come alongside them to inspire them forward. If they are feeble or impaired, help them. Like the injured athlete who can’t walk off the field, they need you to help them up, get under their arm, and assist them to the sideline. They need you to do for them what they can’t do for themselves in that moment.

But above all, God says, “Be patient with them.” They need your patience just as much as they need your assistance. In fact, your patience facilitates your assistance. Otherwise, without patience, when the going gets tough, you’ll get frustrated and walk away, leaving them in their time of need.

Beloved, the Lord doesn’t call us to help just those who are easy. No, He’s called us to help the difficult cases as well. And by His strength, you will not only give them some help but see them through!

Change begins in you!