My wife and I became the pastor of a new church plant a short time after getting married. The church met in a rented building. Debbie and I lived in the house next door. We pastored the church for a year. The church was composed of good people who, like us, were doing something for the first time. There were more than enough missteps to go around.
There was one man in the church who thought he was supposed to tell the pastor and everyone else how things should be done. I had pastored a church before this for a year and a half and had been removed because I got filled with the Spirit. So, I had a little experience but dealing with this type of thing I was a novice.
My wife and I prayed about how to handle the situation and determined that because nothing we did seemed to be working that it would be best for us to move somewhere else. Which we did.
The night before we were to load the truck and leave, he came by our house to pick up the keys to the house and the shop where the church was meeting. He sat on our couch and proceeded to berate me and tell of all the things he thought I had done wrong.
While this was happening, I kept my cool and did not get angry. Finally, he left. Then I made a big mistake. I started thinking about the things he said. The more I thought about them the angrier I became. I told Debbie, “I am going to his house and beat him up!” She suggested that before going there I should pray about it. I was so angry I couldn’t pray. So, after a while, I cooled down and did not go to his house.
The next day, we moved to our new location. About a year later, the church had a special service and we were invited to be there. We decided to go. But I kept wondering how I would face this man if he was still there. I had prayed extensively about him and the whole situation and had forgiven him for what he had done and said.
When we arrived, I immediately saw him across the building. He saw me and started walking toward me. We greeted each other cordially and had a short conversation as though nothing negative had ever happened. I believe the grace of God was working the whole situation out. I saw him a few more times and everything seemed to be fine between us.
To God be the glory! Great things He has done!