Let’s be real. An assessment of our church or ministry may lead to results we don’t like. We may face significant challenges for which we have insignificant resources. How easily discouragement can set in, leading to a sense of defeat and urge to give up.
Solution to What Seems Like Insurmountable Assessment Results
The psalmist said, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps. 27:13). — What gave him such confidence?
Think back to when God disciplined David for adultery (2 Sam. 12:14-23). Though God took the life of the child born out of sin, David clung to hope that he would one day see that child again. He obviously believed in the resurrection of the dead.
We have an even greater foundation for such confidence. We have Jesus, the firstborn from among the dead (Col. 1:18). Because He lives, having been raised from the dead, we too have reason to hope and take confidence. As an old, well-known song goes:
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth a living just because He lives
Hope in Even the Bleakest Situations
Note how in David’s case that the child still died, the bleakest of results. Prior to the child’s death, he pleaded with God and fasted. After the child died, he moved forward, saying, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” (2 Sam. 12:22-23).
Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope of rising above even the bleakest of results in an assessment. Perhaps God will provide what we need or maybe He’ll send us in a new direction. Of course, no one wants to see a church die, yet, can we believe that God will bring good even out of that (Rom. 8:28)? We will if we believe in resurrection power. — “His incomparably great power … the same as the mighty strength He exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 1:19-20).
The psalmist, after saying, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord”, continued with an exhortation. He said, “Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” (Ps. 27:14) The idea of “waiting” suggests that we may not always see the good God has in store for us right away. But, when we truly believe in resurrection power, even the bleakest of results don’t have to send us into despair.
For More on These Topics:
All Posts about Assessments:
- The Right Standard for Assessments
- Using Assessment Results in Ways that Line Up
- Guard Body Life When Doing Assessments
- Great Commission: Encompassing or Complicated?
- Assessment Questions from the Great Commission
- Christ-like Standard in Assessments
- Assessing Christ-like Character
- Assessing Christ-like Conduct & Conversation
- Assessments Leading to Eternal Results?
- Involvement of the Holy Spirit in the Assessment Process
- Pulling on Spiritual Gifting in the Assessment Process
- Alignment with the Gospel in the Assessment Process
- Prayer in the Assessment Process
- Do Assessments Really Fit into God’s Character and Ways?
- Concerned with His Name in the Assessment Process?
- Use of Spiritual Weapons in the Assessment Process
- Need for Grace in the Assessment Process
- Guide the Assessment Process
- A Leader’s Roles in Assessments
- Don’t Like the Results of an Assessment?