After a meeting I sometimes hear the following comments: I want to meet Muslim women but I can’t seem to meet any…They don’t look at me if I meet them in the store…I can’t speak her language…I’m too young…I’m too old…I’m a single mom…I’ve been divorced…She’s always so busy…She doesn’t ever call me…I’m tired of always taking the initiative…She just stopped meeting with me and I don’t know why…She is afraid to hear anything…She can’t read even in her own language…Her community is putting pressure on her to stay away from me…I can’t see any spiritual hunger or thirst in her…Her demands and expectations of me are so high…I think she was offended by something I said or did but she won’t tell me what…She can’t seem to rise above the fear of the evil eye…She can’t forgive…I tell her about her rights in our country but she still thinks the court system here is like in her homeland…She loves Isa al Masih and even says “he’s the best” but her prophet is “the last”…She can’t understand the Trinity or that Isa al Masih is God manifested in the flesh…I’ve befriended her for two years but still she isn’t interested in my faith…I feel too inadequate to witness…She’s afraid to read the Bible…I prayed in the name of Isa al Masih for my friend and He answered the prayer with a miracle but she said she also prayed to Hussein, Ali, Fatima, Maryam or Imam Reza…She came to church once but isn’t interested in going back…My church doesn’t understand how difficult it is for me ministering to Muslim women…The church can’t see my ministry so they have a hard time standing behind me…My church isn’t suitable to invite Muslims to…There isn’t any fellowship in my city of believers from Muslim background…I feel so alone…etc.
It is easy to quickly get discouraged trying to reach Muslim women with the Good News. Our love and compassion can fluctuate – maybe even disappear. We’re not so sure anymore that God has called us to this ministry. Where are the visible results? It all takes so long. How long should I even hang in there?
I’ve often gotten discouraged in the 38 years of ministry. Every time I get discouraged I have a good cry, talk it out with God, beg for more strength and perseverance, tarry in His presence for comfort, and listen to some worship music and read the Word of God. At these times I find I need to stay away from Christians who sensationalize everything. They will make me more discouraged. I find encouragement from those who suffer well with some kind of affliction or have experienced a degree of persecution. I also find networking with other Christians involved in Muslim ministry to be helpful. We all seem to understand each other. Keep on keeping on, my sisters. God is Almighty! NOTHING you do for the Lord is ever useless or wasted. Just remember who you are doing it for.
Dear heavenly Father, please send encouragement to a discouraged sister today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
