By: Gala Castaños - Outreach Worker in Kingston-Galloway
Psalm 14:4-7
Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread; they never call on the Lord. But there they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is present in the company of the righteous. You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord restores his people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!
There is a whole lot of evil in this world. It feels so overwhelming sometimes living and working in Kingston-Galloway because everywhere you go, there are people not only living in darkness but being manipulated by it. There are families being torn apart by drugs and abuse, volatile relationships, financial tension, hatred for others and a deep sense of hopelessness and worthlessness. I've seen it on many faces. It can be overwhelming, but the thing is; I can't do anything about it. I can't do anything about a mom calling me saying that her abusive boyfriend has killed himself. I can't do much about a family who is worried that they might need to relocate to a downtown shelter because of inflated housing costs. I can't do much about the single dad with two kids who couldn't pay the rent and are wandering the streets near my house. I can't do much about the kids who purposely stay behind program hours to collect the extra food to take home because there isn't much for them for dinner every day. I've experienced many more stories through the lives of these people I have met and I can honestly say- I can't do much. But God can.
This dependence on a Sovereign God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever think of is where true longevity and hope in serving in ministry lies. My job is not to run seamlessly perfect programs. It is to build authentic relationships with people and point them to Jesus. That's it. simple. When I see these two things as the utter most important tasks - all the pressure and complication of "doing everything right" is taken completely off myself and is given to a God that can handle it. When all these pressures are given up to a God of restoration and salvation - His glory is displayed much more richly and abundantly - may I never take credit in what God has done. There is such irony in ministry because it is so complicated and involves a lot of brokenness and mess; yet its so ridiculously simple. Build authentic relationships and point people to Jesus. God will do the rest. Just wait, see and rejoice when He does!