Being a church planter, I am frequently asked, “How are you doing?”  Knowing the stresses and challenges that face church planters, people genuinely care about the ministry to which I am called and want to know how well I am managing.  They sincerely desire to know about the well being of my family and how they can pray for us and encourage us.  Nevertheless, when answering the question, it is easy to simply say, “Oh, we are doing well.  Thanks for asking.” 

While this answer would be true, it really would not communicate what God is doing in and through us for His glory and the encouragement of His people.  Recently, the challenges I have been facing have caused me to reflect upon 2Cor. 12:1-10.  Here the Apostle Paul communicates his weakness and struggle in dealing with a stressful and even troublesome situation.  With that scripture in mind, when people ask “How are you doing?”  Lately, I am responding, “God is faithful in setting before me challenges for which I am not equipped?” 

Church planting demands more of you than I had anticipated.  It stretches you in ways that nothing else can.  It makes you cry out to God for wisdom and discernment in areas you had not before.  It gives you a greater sense of your inadequacy and makes you accutely aware of your lack of sufficiency for the task and calling God has before you.  It short, I am asking God for more help than I ever have.  And while it is not a comfortable place for me to be in (like any man I hate asking for directions) I am learning that it is a good thing.  I am learning that God’s grace is made perfect in my weakness.  I am learning that the sufficiency is not in me but in Him.  I am learning that His grace is enough.  These are not always easy lessons for a self-suffciency leaning preacher; but like Paul I am learning to boast and even rejoice in my weaknesses so that the power and wisdom of Christ might rest upon me. 

So, the next time you ask me, “How are you doing?”  Don’t be surpised if you hear that Christ is being formed in me, and that I am learning (slowly) to be content with hardships, weaknesses, and the unknown.  When I am weak, then He is strong.  When I am stuggling, then He perseveres.  When I lack understanding, then is His wisdom is all the more precious. 

By the way, “How are you doing?”