Barbra Gentry-Pugh

Crushed by Ministry Trials ~ Anchored in Calling & Ministry

September 21, 2025

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. Through suffering, our bodies continue to share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 (NLT)

For as long as I can remember, my father was in the pulpit preaching. One Sunday night, yes, back when we had Sunday night services after a full day of worship and teaching experiences, my life changed forever. Sundays began with Sunday School, followed by the 11:00 a.m. service, often a 3:00 p.m. fellowship with another congregation, then BYPU (Baptist Young People’s Union) training, and finally the evening service. It was during one of those night services, after hearing my father preach, that I gave my life to Christ.

Growing up, church and ministry were not just Christian activities; they were a way of life. My siblings and I learned to observe, to serve, and to respect the call of God on people’s lives. Ministry was woven into the fabric of our family identity. But along with the joys of serving, we also witnessed the trials that come with ministry, the pressures, disappointments, and sacrifices. And yet, those experiences gave me a foundation to understand the difference between simply being busy in church and being divinely called to ministry. Over time, in my Christian journey, I became acutely familiar with “church work” as well as the “work of the church.”

The Reality of Ministry Trials

Ministry is one of the greatest privileges, but also one of the greatest tests of faith. They are both rewarding and crushing. Anyone who has labored in the vineyard of the Lord knows that challenges and trials in ministry are inevitable. Trials come through people, expectations, disappointments, and even seasons of loneliness. Ministry often brings seasons of weariness, moments of misunderstanding, times of feeling overlooked, and burdens that can feel the crushing of ministry. The trials can crush us but anchor us in God’s greater purpose. Yet, those whom God truly calls discover that circumstances do not shake their calling. Ministry born from crushing carries the fragrance of Christ and becomes a testimony that draws others to Him.

The crushing moments of ministry remind us that the treasure is not in us but in the God who called us. The Apostle says in 2 Corinthians 4:7, “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Alan Redpath, a well-known British Evangelist, Pastor, and Author, says, “When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible person and crushes him. Then He accomplishes the task through that person.”

The Apostle Paul further says it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. (NLT)

What is a Divine Calling?

A calling is not the same as a position, title, or role. A calling comes from God Himself and is rooted in His purpose for your life.

~ A Calling Comes from God, Not Man

The Apostle Paul declared Galatians 1:15, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles.” (NLT)

Ministry is Spirit-initiated, not self-appointed.

~ A Calling Requires Obedience and Surrender. Jeremiah says, “But if I say, ‘I will not mention His word or speak anymore in His name,’ His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” Jeremiah 20:9, (NLT). When God has called you, even in moments of resistance, the call compels you.

~ A Calling Produces Eternal Fruit. Jesus told His disciples in John 15:16: “You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.” (NLT)

~ A divine calling leaves a mark on eternity.

Anchored in Ministry! Being anchored means we remain steadfast even when trials attempt to uproot us. Ministry isn’t about avoiding hardship; it’s about staying grounded in the One who called us. Our anchor is Christ, who equips, strengthens, and sustains.

When trials threaten to shake us, being anchored in Christ keeps us steady. Ministry is not sustained by talent, charisma, or programs. It is sustained by God’s grace and the assurance that He who called us is faithful. To be anchored means we don’t allow the storms to drive us away from our purpose. Instead, we plant ourselves deeper in Christ. Trials may bruise us, but they cannot break the call of God on our lives.

How Do You Know What Your Calling Is?

Throughout scripture, we are told about God’s call on our lives to be in ministry. We hear these words penned by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; and there are different ministries and the same Lord; and there are different activities but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” God calls all of us to ministry. We, the ordinary people, are called by God and filled with the Spirit to create extraordinary works for the Kingdom of God.

The first step in knowing our calling is to get to know God intimately through His word and let him guide us through it in everything.

Psalm 119:105. “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path.” (NLT)

God has given each of us special aptitudes and abilities. These help us to see the kinds of things that we should be doing.

Daniel 1:17. “God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” (NLT)

When God gives us a specific calling, it fills our thoughts and hearts so that we pursue it wholeheartedly.

Acts 20:24. ^“But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus. The work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.” (NLT)

~ When we let God transform us by the power of his Holy Spirit, he will show us what he wants us to do.

Romans 12:2. “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do.” (NLT)

Has God Called You To Do Specific Things?

~ God gives us the freedom to do what we think is best, but we will answer for everything we do.

Ecclesiastes 11:9. “Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.” (NLT)

~ Sometimes God may call us to fulfill a very specific ministry. When that happens, he will make sure that we know it.

Jeremiah 1:4-5. “The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born, I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” (NLT)

~ God has given each of us a special ministry that he wants us to perform in the church to build up the body of Christ and bring glory to His name.

1 Corinthians 12:4-7. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. (NLT)

~ Complete the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:5 says, ^“But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.” (NLT)

Ministry may crush us at times, but it will never destroy us. The same God who called us is the God who sustains us. When the trials press in, lean into your anchor, Christ Jesus. Remember, you were not just called to ministry; you were chosen for it.

YOUR HEART CHECK: Have you discerned what God has specifically called you to do? How have ministry trials tested your faith, and how has God used them to anchor you deeper? How has God used ministry trials to strengthen your dependence on Him? Are you serving out of duty or obligation, or are you living out of divine calling?

God does not waste the crushing. When ministry trials press us beyond our strength, it is not to destroy us, but to shape us. The weight of trials anchors us deeper into His calling, stripping away self-reliance and teaching us to depend fully on Him. It is often in those moments of pressure that the clearest evidence of His power and purpose shines through our lives.

YOUR HEART CHALLENGES: The challenges of authentic ministry and its trials may crush you, but they can anchor you in God’s greater purpose. The crushing also anchors you in God’s higher calling and allows God’s glory to shine through. God uses the crushing to prepare you for impossible tasks. The Apostle Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians, reminding us that while trials press us hard, they never have the final say. The crushing does not cancel the calling, it confirms it.” Yes, ministry will test you, but it will also transform you. The same God who called you is the God who will keep you. Every crushing moment, every trial, and every tear has a purpose. Let your heart be anchored in Christ and remember this truth: you were not just called to ministry; you were chosen for it.

AN ANCHORED HEART: I am a witness that God does not waste the crushing. When ministry trials press us beyond our strength, it is not to destroy us, but to shape us. The weight of trials anchors us deeper into His calling, stripping away self-reliance and teaching us to depend fully on Him. It is often in those moments of pressure that the clearest evidence of His power and purpose shines through our lives.

Are you truly anchored in the ministry God has called you to? Being anchored means you remain steadfast even when trials attempt to uproot you. Ministry isn’t about avoiding hardship; it’s about staying grounded in the One who called you. Our anchor is Christ, who equips, strengthens, and sustains us in the journey.

When trials threaten to shake our foundation, being anchored in Christ keeps us steady. Ministry is not sustained by talent, charisma, or programs. It is sustained by God’s grace and the assurance that He who called us is faithful. To be anchored means we don’t allow the storms to drive us away from our purpose. Instead, we plant ourselves deeper in Christ. Yes, trials may bruise us, but they cannot break the call of God on our lives.

PRAYER:    Father God, thank You for Your authoritative, inerrant, and inspired Word that helps us know to that ministry is often costly, but the eternal reward outweighs the crushing trials. Father, thank You that even in the crushing places of ministry, You are working for our good and for Your glory. When the weight feels too heavy, remind us that Your grace is sufficient and Your calling is sure. Anchor our hearts in the truth that trials do not disqualify us; they refine us and draw us closer to You. Strengthen our hands to keep serving, our voices to keep proclaiming, and our hearts to remain faithful to the calling You have placed upon us. May every trial we endure point others to Christ, who endured the cross for our salvation. We pray this in the precious, powerful, and preeminent name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.