He said to me, “You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will display my splendour.”
4 But I said, “I have laboured in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,
    and my reward is with my God.”

There is encouragement here for every church leader (‘servant’) who has thought: ‘What am I doing? What’s it all for? Will there be anything lasting to show for all my efforts?’ Jesus – the ‘Servant of the LORD’ – can identify with such emotions. However, He also points the way to transcend the downward drag of our negative feelings. Look at the final two lines of verse 4. We need to commit our way and our work to God, knowing that lasting fruitfulness comes from Him alone.

In ‘the Message’ we read:

But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
    I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
    I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”

 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58: emphasis mine).

I also noticed in today’s text the juxtaposition of the words:

He said…But I said…

The challenge is to believe what God says about us and our ministries, and not what we say or think or feel. We regularly give credence to lying emotions.

PRAYER: Lord, please help us to always speak in line with the truth of your Word.