Last week I talked about how I had a friend that was having trouble finding a church home. Sometimes people do have unrealistic expectations, but I believe that there are times when we desperately want something but despite all our searching we cannot find it. You may have a vision of what a church should be, but are unable to find it anywhere. Maybe that's because God is preparing you to start your own church. I listened to a friend share her struggles in finding a mentor. She encountered some problems which seemed so unusual and difficult it was almost bizarre. But I truly believe that she was in training. Her longstanding desire for a mentor remained unfulfilled and instead she found every problem a person could have. I think God is training her to be a mentor. Every bad interaction is teaching her what not to do, and every need unmet teaches her what she should do. When she comes out of everything she'll probably be able to be one awesome mentor.

I know I went through certain experiences and I longed for someone to be there to minister to me, and help me get through them. I wondered why there was no help available to meet my needs. It even seemed that other people could go through similar experiences without any problems at all. Why did I encounter every problem a person could have? Why did doors remain closed for me that opened for others? Lord what's going on? Well it turned out He allowed me to go through those experiences, and have those needs unmet so I'd recognize the need. He was teaching me how to become for others what I wished someone had been for me. He was using me to create a new ministry.

God's Beloved, maybe you've gone through some things and had no one to turn to but God. Maybe you longed for some loving soul to support you through the process and found none. Maybe you came out with a strong desire to help others. Maybe you understand what people need because you've been there. Instead of bemoaning all the trials you went through; realize that was training and preparation. Every unpleasant challenging experience you faced was inadvertently teaching you the right way by showing you the wrong way. I'm not saying you have to start a 5,000 member church, but be open to what God is doing. If He's given you a vision of how things should be, along with preparation and training, understand He wants you to do something. You went through so you could come out, and in every area where you've achieved victory, you now have authority to bring others out.