Serving God Faithfully When the Journey Gets Hard

 “The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper.”

Acts 13:4-5

Dear Friends,

Have you ever been excited to begin something meaningful only to run into obstacles almost immediately? We’ve all been there. Serving God faithfully is no different. In fact, those who faithfully share the gospel often face opposition because we have an enemy who wants to keep God’s wonderful message hidden.

Sent Out by the Holy Spirit

Barnabas, Saul, and John Mark, the helper who accompanied them, quickly discovered that their mission to spread the gospel would not be easy. Opposition and unexpected roadblocks lay ahead. Barnabas and Saul were seasoned believers, but John Mark was not.

Excited and still glowing in the warmth of their joyful, prayerful sendoff by the church in Antioch, the three men set out on their journey, guided by the Holy Spirit. The first leg of their trip took them to Seleucia, where they boarded a boat and sailed to Cyprus.

When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. This first stop would have been familiar to Barnabas, who was from Cyprus. The men continued traveling and preaching throughout the whole island, but when they came to Paphos, they encountered their first major roadblock.

Opposition Came Quickly

While there they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Elymas who attended the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. Sergius sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear God’s Word, but Elymas opposed them. He used his position to try to dissuade his employer from believing their message.

Boldly, Saul, who was now also called Paul, stood up to Elymas. Filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul openly rebuked the sorcerer for perverting the right ways of the Lord and proclaimed that the Lord’s hand was against him. Elymas was spiritually blind, and now Paul declared that he would be physically blind for a period of time – unable even to see the light of the sun.

In a striking parallel to Paul’s own experience, the spiritually blind Elymas lost his physical sight and had to grope about for someone to lead him by the hand. The Bible doesn’t tell us the spiritual outcome of Elymas’ blindness, but we do know that the proconsul witnessed these events and believed.

What a mixture of emotions marked the first weeks of this missionary journey! The travel alone would have been exhausting. Add to that fierce opposition, witnessing God’s power at work, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead, and the emotional toll must have been immense. Serving God faithfully would not be easy.

John Mark Turned Back

Although we don’t know exactly why, the stress of the journey became too much for John Mark. After leaving Paphos and sailing to Perga, he deserted the team and returned to Jerusalem. This breach in commitment deeply bothered Paul and later became a wedge between him and Barnabas when Barnabas suggested taking John on another missionary journey (Acts 15:36-41).

I know what it’s like in everyday life to rely on someone for help, only to have them not come through. Sometimes it can’t be helped. Other times, you’ve simply trusted the wrong person. Once I hired someone I didn’t know well to help at one of our auctions, and without explanation, he never showed up. We were left scrambling and had to quickly change plans.

John’s desertion caused problems on this missionary journey, and it eventually created such a sharp disagreement between Barnabas and Paul that they parted ways as ministry partners.

Paul eventually forgave John Mark and grew to respect him as he matured into a faithful servant of Christ. But in that moment, his decision made the work much more difficult.

John’s failure reminds us that serving God faithfully isn’t simply about enthusiasm. It requires depending on the Lord day after day.

God’s Work Requires God’s Strength

As I consider the lives and mission of these three men, it is evident that God’s work is not easy. It requires endurance, commitment, sacrifice, and complete dependence upon Him.

Serving God faithfully takes physical and emotional energy. He may call us to travel, or He may call us to remain in the same place for many years. Both can be difficult.

His work requires commitment and perseverance. We will face discouragements, trials, and opposition, along with wonderful blessings, as we seek to do His will.

It also demands sacrifice. Since everything we have belongs to Him—our time, our finances, our families, our comfort, and even our safety—it must all be at His disposal.

These are not easy tasks, and we cannot endure or succeed in our own strength. But through Christ, we can overcome every obstacle and bear fruit for eternity.

Recently, Abigail and I experienced God’s strength as we traveled to serve Him in another country. We were excited about the trip but encountered some difficulties along the way. Illness threatened to stop us, and several of our fellow workers arrived without their luggage. These relatively small roadblocks could have discouraged our team. Yet by God’s grace, we kept moving forward, and He used us to share His message with those who needed to hear it.

Failure Doesn’t Have to Be Final

Are you relying on your own strength to accomplish what God has called you to do? Or, like John Mark, do you feel you’ve failed in some way?

Start today by placing your life completely in God’s hands—your energy, your possessions, your plans, and your future. Step out in faith and rely on Him for everything you need. You will encounter roadblocks, but He will faithfully see you through.

John Mark started again. Years later, he wrote the second Gospel, the Gospel of Mark. He deserted his teammates on their first missionary journey, but God was not finished with him. Along the way, John Mark learned to rely on God’s strength as he faithfully served Christ. Today, people around the world can read the Gospel story, inspired by the Holy Spirit, through his written testimony.

Serving God Faithfully Today

God desires to bear eternal fruit through your life. That only happens as you rely on His mighty power rather than your own. So take the next step He is calling you to take. Serve Him boldly, trust Him completely, and depend on His strength every step of the way.

Love,

Mama

I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever experienced a roadblock while serving God faithfully, only to watch Him carry you through? Share your story in the comments below. If this devotional encouraged you, would you consider sharing it with someone who needs the reminder that God’s strength is always enough?

This reflection is part of my Walking Through the Book of Acts devotional series, where we explore the early church, the work of the Holy Spirit, and what it means to follow God with courage and faith.