Are you wondering how ministry in the Bible is lived out, or trying to understand your ministry or calling?
Lora Avery shares her story and unravels ministry in the Bible and the important ingredient of love, to help you discover your ministry to God.
The Hopeful Start
Goodbye, 2025. Hello, 2026. This is going to be the time for God-sized ministry! Let’s go!
Little did I know that ministry in the Bible…God’s definition of my “ministry” was vastly different from my own.
The year started innocently enough, appearing to live up to its advertising as “new and improved.” I had the typical New Year high hopes.
THIS will be THE year everything turns around! Isn’t that the promise January 1st alludes to each year?
But by January 15th–or January 31st at the latest–it’s not just the New Year’s resolutions that have crumbled.
Those hopes of smooth sailing into a better, more problem-free life have also dematerialized by then.
The Shattering
This year, the illusion didn’t last a full week. What do you mean you’re in the emergency room? What happened?!?
The deconstruction of the dream began when a close family member’s mental health issues hit crisis level.
A multi-day stay in the hospital led to almost two weeks in an inpatient therapy center.
When the family member returned home, we were all on heightened alert for a few weeks to ensure no relapse.
Just as this life storm appeared to be dissipating, a literal storm flattened my Mom.
High winds knocked her off balance. A second gust of extreme wind smacked her to the ground.
X-rays revealed her right shoulder resembled a jigsaw puzzle. The right side of her face sported a kaleidoscope of colors. Scans revealed the blessing of no concussion or other head injuries from the fall.
What had started as a simple trip to the grocery store transformed into a need for shoulder replacement surgery, requiring a couple of months of recovery.
A sling on Mom’s dominant arm kept it stationary to allow healing. That same sling stopped her from performing everyday tasks we all take for granted.
Mom has been an absolute champ through all of this. It’s grueling for an energetic person to be laid up for long periods of time.
Her calm acceptance, patience, and gratitude to God amid severe pain and upheaval reveal the strength of her faith.
Finding Your Ministry During Struggles
I was fine while caring for Mom. But after transferring caregiving responsibilities to my brother, I slipped into a mental and emotional tailspin.
Sleeping was my predominant activity during the first weekend back home, due to depleted mental energy rather than physical tiredness.
As a natural-born planner, I love making lists.
I set my thoughts loose on the playground of listing disappointments—things which proved despair was the correct conclusion:
- mental health struggles of multiple family members
- a broken family relationship
- Mom’s injury
- family member suicide risk
- other strained relationships within the family
- overwhelm from a growing list of unfinished tasks (as I glanced at the Christmas tree still on display in the living room)
The list went on and on.
My writing and speaking ministry seemed to be going nowhere as I sprinted in scattered directions.
Previously scheduled events and responsibilities needed to be completed. But after those activities were finished, I planned to quit my current job and find the new calling God had for me.
The depression hit hardest on my birthday. I wasn’t upset about aging.
Forced celebration felt distasteful, and “happy birthday” messages felt like a joke. I had allowed circumstances to twist my perspective until “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) seemed out of touch with reality.
However, I was the one who was out of touch with reality.
What is Ministry in the Bible
During my prayer time the following morning, God revealed my negative list-making was not a playground—it was a trap.
This catalogue of discontentment was luring my mind in the opposite direction from ministry in the Bible according to Philippians 4:8.
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (NIV)
God healed my broken mind with the gentle power of His Presence through tears and tingles as I prayed.*
He soothed my anxious, despairing thoughts and replaced them with reminders of His Love. (The last time I experienced depression, His healing process ordained for me was much longer and involved medication and counseling.)
I realized why I felt impressed to focus on the word “abide” for 2026.
Only by abiding in the Lord’s Presence can I thrive in a year of such turmoil. God is my only secure Anchor. Everything else can shift and change.
It’s ironic how words you speak to someone else come back to you and apply to your own circumstances as well.
My mom confessed she felt lazy while wandering around the house, unable to do the physical work she typically performed with fervor. I told her she was far from lazy.
According to ministry in the Bible, God was calling her to the much more demanding mental and spiritual work which comes from having our life plans upset in ways we deem disappointing.
This work was stretching and growing her in new ways.
Ministry of Love
Mom wasn’t the only one whose workload shifted into an uncomfortable realm.
God has not gifted me with natural abilities as a nurse, chef, or beautician.
Mom’s sling adjustments and hair washing took forever because of my inexperience. And she may have endured some water poured into her ear accidentally—sorry, Mom!
Yet as I attempted to fulfill these roles in caring for her, I felt this was holy work.
I needed to lean on God and seize the opportunities He provided moment-by-moment to love Him and love people by meeting needs. This is what it’s all about.
Jesus explained ministry in the Bible in Matthew 22:37-40, NIV:
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
God has called each of us to love.
This is our primary occupation and the foundation of our faith.
Caring for my family members’ needs wasn’t a detour from my ministry—it’s an important part of my ministry.
As multiple awards and encouraging words have poured in over the last couple of weeks, God has renewed His call on my life to continue spreading His love and messages to others through my writing and speaking.
I found that being called to one type of love doesn’t exclude simultaneous calling to another type of love.
Sometimes God calls us to do things that everyone recognizes as ministry.
And sometimes ministry in the Bible is when He calls us to love in those out-of-the-ordinary places which simply pop up as we journey through life.
Some of these opportunities are easy to recognize. Others require a bit more intense focus to see where loving attention is most needed.
Love can take many forms, depending on the opportunities God places in our path.
2 Corinthians 9:8, tells us:
“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (NIV)
In other words, when God calls us to a task to show His love, He will give us the time, energy, and other resources needed to complete it.
A part of my God-given ministry is developing and sharing discipleship resources for kids.
Family circumstances and needs didn’t prevent me from leading a StoryMakers event scheduled at my local library.
This time spent with the kids sharing books, games, activity pages, and gifts was incredibly rewarding as they learned practical ways to love God and people.
God provided all I needed to share His love with these kids.
Ministry of Children
Kids have a special propensity to grasp simple concepts.
When they understand the foundational principle of faith in Christ at a young age, God can use this throughout their entire lives to bless them and the world around them.
My newest book, The Biggest WHY: Finding the Real Treasure Is Loving God and People, is a warm, faith-filled picture book which invites children on a treasure hunt to ask life’s biggest questions and discover what truly matters.
It’s ideal for families who want to nurture curiosity while grounding children in Christian faith.
The book is born out of a desire to help kids build a solid faith foundation upon God’s love.
This discipleship tool helps kids understand the wonderful purpose God has given us in the two greatest commandments.
Equipped For Ministry
He equips us for our ministry by first filling us with His love, enabling us to give.
“We love because he first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 NIV
2026 is indeed my time for God-sized, God-ordained ministry. It’s my year to follow wherever God leads, to abide in His love and learn to love Him and others more and more.
May God enable us all to grasp our ministry and fulfill His biggest WHY for our lives, guiding us into all the love He has for us to receive and give.
* Negative thinking is not the only catalyst for depression. There are many factors that could be involved, some of which are completely outside our control.
God provided instantaneous healing in this situation. In the past, I have suffered depression, which required the use of medication and counseling over a period of time before I experienced healing.
I believe God determines how and when healing occurs through His loving choice among multiple methods and timelines.
Ministry in the Bible on YouTube
Listen in as Lora Avery shares her story and how ministry in the Bible is based on love. Click here to watch on YouTube.
Author
Lora Avery is a Christian author and speaker recognized for her Spirit-led wisdom and transformative teaching. Her talks have been featured in churches and retreats, including her keynote at the Olive Leaf Retreat.
Her writing has appeared in Light+Life Magazine, and her devotional book, Wilderness Paths and Desert Streams: 40 Devotions to Encourage Parched and Weary Souls, is award-winning.
Her newest book is an award-winning Christian children’s book titled The Biggest WHY: Finding the Real Treasure Is Loving God and People. To connect, visit loraavery.com.
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