Mobilization Joy
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Are you enjoying Jesus? If not, you might be on your way to burnout. Many mobilizers are stressed and under a lot of pressure to hit their goal of the numbers of new missionaries. Mobilizers are driven, passionate people who care deeply about God and His mission in the world. But if we’re not careful, mobilization and recruitment can often lead to burnout.
Do you find yourself striving to hit the numbers? In his book, Renovated, Jim Wilder writes, “striving is what we do when a good idea is not working well enough.” He notes that “striving is evidence we are overly-focused.“ There’s a difference between doing what God wants you to do and becoming the kind of person who does what God wants you to do. We often strive to do all the tasks at the expense of our own joy and spiritual growth.
Have you lost the joy of mobilization? Do you rejoice even when the numbers of new missionaries you’re sending are lower than you expected? Should we only be grateful when we hit our recruitment goals? We can live thankful and joyful every day as we partner with God who calls and sends new missionaries.
Mobilization is a lot like gardening. We can prepare the soil, plant the seed, give it water, and create the environment that gives it enough sunshine, but God makes it grow. It’s a partnership with God. What joy it is to work together for mobilization fruit!
If you feel like you’ve lost your mobilization joy, here are a few suggestions to get it back:
Stop striving. Jesus is the Lord of the harvest, not you. So let Him be Lord. Take time off to be with Jesus all day. Enjoy your time with Him. He loves being with you. Do things that rejuvenate you.
Study what the Bible says about joy. Start with Acts 13:49-52. Why were the disciples filled with joy in the midst of persecution? Other portions of Scripture to consider are: Luke 2:10, 6:23, 2 Cor. 8:2, and Phil. 1 and 2.
Celebrate the small wins. You may need to redefine mobilization success. We created the Mobilization Continuum to help mobilizers see the progress (wins) in someone’s commitment to and involvement in missions. Rejoice when you see God at work in someone you’re discipling or mobilizing.
Love the people you work with. This may come easy for some and be more difficult for others. When you practice loving those in your in-group well, you become a more joyful person. Work to heal and restore any broken relationships and value others above yourself. Be humble, transparent, and vulnerable with your coworkers.
Live each day gratefully. Gratefulness produces joy. When was the last time you thanked God for the ministry He has you in right now? Avoid complaining and be thankful for all He has done in and through you. You can’t be grateful and angry at the same time.
Listen to this worship song based on Psalm 98 titled, Jubilation. https://youtu.be/-jJzXgKYFqA?si=lSjAlKlmjADTinBi
Don’t forget your why. Do you remember when Jesus called you into this mobilization ministry? You are helping to make His name famous in all the earth! People are being saved and discipled because of your ministry. What a joy!
The first question of the Westminster Catechism is, “What is the chief end of man?” And the answer? “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.”
Are you enjoying Jesus today? I’m praying you are filled with His joy as you mobilize His people to the ends of the earth!
Dave Jacob
Chief Servant Officer
Gospel Mobilization
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