Skin as Tough as a Rhinoceros  

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Catey Stover in Victory Call

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. (Proverbs 24:10)

Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.  (2 Corinthians 4:1)

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Galatians 6:9)

 

As a teenager, I had the privilege of getting to know my pastor and his wife on a personal level, and eventually, I married their oldest son.  Observing their lives and ministry helped prepare me for becoming a pastor’s wife.

One lesson I learned early on equipped me as much for future ministry as any I would learn in the future.  My sister and I had been invited to provide special music for a Sunday morning service at our new church.  I was sixteen and my sister was only thirteen years old.  She would sing, and I would accompany her on the piano.  I don’t remember the song, but I know we diligently practiced in preparation for our musical debut at this new church.  My sister was really scared so she decided to stand beside the piano and hold the microphone instead of being up on the platform.  Besides, she was only five feet tall and the pulpit microphone was too far away to pick up her voice.

As it goes in church life, people have their own ideas as to what is appropriate in church and what is not.  It doesn’t always matter whether the opinion is biblical or merely a personal preference.  Some folks either like something or they don’t.  And if they don’t, they will let you know!

One lady did not like my sister holding the microphone.  This unhappy woman marched up as soon as church was over to tell us in no uncertain terms what she thought about girls holding a microphone in church.  She preached a little sermon just for us on the sinfulness of it and how we looked like we were performing in a barroom.  I’ve always wondered if she heard a single word of the pastor’s sermon that morning.

Of course, we were quite upset, being blindsided by her comments.  We decided the best thing to do was go and talk to our pastor.  He offered very wise counsel, which has served me well through the years, “Girls, if you’re going to be in ministry, you’ve got to have skin as tough as a rhinoceros.”

A unique analogy, but when you seek to serve the Lord and follow Him, there will be plenty of people who won’t like what you are doing.  We must be tough-skinned, not easily deterred or discouraged because we serve the Lord Christ (Colossians 3:24).  We won’t always please people, but we should always seek to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him… (Colossians 1:10).  When we serve with “skin as tough as a rhinoceros,” we can be sure that in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).

 

Written by Kim Olachea: Kim Olachea served as a pastor’s wife for 35 years in NC, GA, and NJ. In 2018, she and her husband transitioned from local church ministry to serve full time with DisciplePath. Kim is an entrepreneur and the owner of Online Bookkeeping Solutions. She is a speaker, writer, and founder of ProverbWise and Pastors’ Wives, EveryDay Lives. She and her husband, Dr. Joe Olachea, lead teaching tours to Israel and Greece, with a unique emphasis on discipleship. Kim enjoys writing, reading, playing the piano, walking, and a few good days at the beach. Her most fulfilling roles include being wife of Joe, mom to five adult children, and grandma to seven adorable, nearly perfect grandchildren. Joe and Kim are loving life in New Bern, NC.

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Think About This: “It is not my ability, but my response to God’s ability, that counts.” -Corrie Ten Boom

The Daily Bible Reading: Ezekiel 44-47| You can download our 2020 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear -1 Peter 3:15

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.