“Does anyone have a testimony they would like to share?” The pastor asked.

 

There I was sitting in the sanctuary of the Toll Gate SDA Church, still doing my best to hide my inner distress over the events of the night before. Preaching with all my heart and knowing that this is not enough never sits well with me. That Sabbath happened to include a communion service. “Why today?” I asked myself. For the first time I just couldn’t get excited about the meaning behind the service–that is, until I heard the words of Jesus as he gave the bread to his disciples at the last supper.

 

“When he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, ‘Take, eat: this is my body…which is broken…for you.’ ”

 

The words echoed over and over in my head. “My body…broken…for you.” It tore at my heart. It was like I heard Him say, “I know you are not perfect, and you may not always be perfect in preaching my word, but my grace covers that because my body was broken for your shortcomings. I was broken for you inadequacy. I cover that.”

 

My mind was far off as people in church shared their testimonies. Then, one of my students shared how God had used me to bring her to a point where she could pray again while going through a trial. God was telling me, “Your work is not in vain.”

 

That afternoon I was with some of the boys up in the dorm. “Small Man” came up to me and asked me where the story of Samson was in the Bible. Just the night before I had preached on the story of Samson. Was it coincidence that this kid wanted to know more now? I think not. God was telling me, “Your work is not in vain.”

 

Later, I was in the conference room grabbing something when one of the teachers stopped me to thank me for the sermon that I had preached for evening worship on Friday night. Once again, God was telling me, “Your work is not in vain.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.