What is the struggle that you have for your people or for yourself? Are you struggling over the fact that you’re not getting much (or any) recognition, or your church isn't growing enough, or you're struggling to be known? Are you struggling to be recognized, or are you struggling to find a place in ministry? Are you struggling for your coworkers to recognize your authority? Is your struggle a numerical struggle, a building struggle, a growth struggle or a budget struggle?
Paul never said that he struggled with those things. He said, “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you” (Colossians 2:1, ESV). He was essentially saying, “I want to see a difference in your life. I want to see God move in your life. I want my agony not to be about the stuff I'm going through, but that agony in my heart is to see you grow, mature and come to the fullness that's in Christ Jesus. That’s the struggle I have for you.”
Making a name, building a personal kingdom, proving something to someone else or even proving something to yourself — that struggle isn’t the struggle of a faithful shepherd. For a faithful shepherd, it’s not about ourselves, our ministry or our position in ministry. The struggle should have everything to do with being faithful to the people God has called us to serve.
Paul said essentially, “I struggle with all his energy that he powerfully works in me. Because I'm doing this for you, there are some hindrances coming my way to keep me from doing what God's called me to do: To build you up.” If you have this struggle as a leader, there’s good news. This is God’s work. If you’re struggling on your own, you won’t have enough energy to survive much less thrive.
If you're struggling with the Holy Spirit's energy moving into you and powerfully working through you, you can adore God through all the things you suffer and endure. You can go through all kinds of hardships, accusations or disappointments because you have the Holy Spirit's power. It's not your own energy at work; it's the energy of the Holy Spirit. This is how Paul wrote, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).