The other day I was training staff on life skills. After some discussion about managing money, one participant volunteered that the message was for their own good, but it was a "hard message". In other words, the participants were saying, "We understand what you are saying but you can't expect us to change our lifestyles so easily and adopt what you have taught us". Deep down I felt hurt and discouraged. Maybe you have had the experience of teaching a "hard message" and you feel like letting the" world die" because we often won't listen to the truth and are determined not to change even for our own good. Perhaps the message was not for them. If the message will heal someone, find another congregation. But even in this darkness, a light flickers. Maybe that day the message was for the ONE participant who took it to heart.
Allan
