Dolly Mink: Years of experience in Christian leadership and service have given Dolly Mink a unique perspective, and she is eager to share her observations, insights, and words of encouragement to the women of Virginia. Dolly seeks to accomplish this through teaching, training, and writing. In addition to her role with the SBCV, she leads women’s Bible study at River Oak Church in Chesapeake, where she and her husband are members, and she writes short stories and blogs at 
It really is just a matter of time. Sooner or later, we will all endure a time of sorrow or grief. A time when we feel like we’ve been blindsided. A time when our happiness seems so very far away. A time when life just feels so…dark.
It’s tempting to withdraw, to pull away from everyone and everything that needs us and that makes demands upon us. Our human side says to pull tight the curtains and shut ourselves off, lick our wounds and wallow in our sorrow. But as leaders, and for those of us who have been led into ministry, we can’t always do that. We are needed, much like a spiritual first-responder, to point people toward the God who loves them. It’s our responsibility to see that the hurting know that they are not alone, and they know where and from Whom their help comes from. Even though it’s just about killing us to give the hope we are longing for ourselves.
Here are a few things that have helped me to be able to keep giving when I don’t really feel like it.
Jesus would.
When Jesus was on the cross, after being brutally tortured and horribly shamed and mocked, He still ministered, first to the soldiers and then to the man on the cross beside Him. He made sure His mother would be cared for, and He declined to call upon all the angels to save Him from the wrath of God on our behalf. (Luke 23:32-46)
Upon reflection of this, I can take the phone call, the visit, the listening when my heart is breaking, too. I can do it, because Jesus did (and does) so much more for me.
The Holy Spirit is within me.
When we are saved, the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, comes to live within us as our helper. (John 15:26-16:1-15; Acts 2:1-4) He will empower us to glorify God in ways that are beyond what we could ever accomplish on our own. As I have grown in my walk with God, I have learned to listen and to lean on Him during the most difficult conversations and circumstances, and to ask Him to minister to me by giving me strength, the right words, and compassion. He has never let me down, and He never will.
I don’t want to miss a minute of what God has called me to.
I consider serving God my greatest privilege. To be part of kingdom work is an honor, and there is nothing that can compare to watching God work in someone’s life. To be a part of that is indescribable, and I want to do it for as long as He wants to use me. The last thing I want is to stand before Him and to hear that I missed an opportunity to serve Him because I was afraid, or tired, or sad.
We all get tired and we all need rest—even Jesus rested! However there’s something that happens when we give hope to those who need it: He speaks to us as well as through us. When we join others in their suffering, we join Him in His. As you lead the women God has placed on your path, rest in knowing that the Healer will be there for you, as you share His incomparable love.
