Evangelism is not an easy thing. It can often be exhausting. But with the spiritual warfare mixing with the roller coaster of emotions, is there any wonder why?
Here are the 7 stages of emotions you experience when you evangelize.
Urgency
In a car, during a conversation, out of the blue, there comes a urgency from deep within. A building pressure in your gut and chest. It’s like the Holy Spirit is clutching you, driving you on.
It’s uncomfortable, sometimes even a bit nauseating, but it’s obvious what you have to do. You have to speak about your Lord.
Fear
Then comes the flash of panic. Your mind races with countless excuses. Thousands of doubts and fears. Logical reasons why you shouldn’t give heed to the mounting urgency within.
The time isn’t right, the atmosphere isn’t perfect, your mindset isn’t ready. It would make no difference if you put it off ‘till tomorrow. It’d be better even.
Floating
But what you need to do in order to get past the initial fear is to just say the first word. Ask the first question. Get it out. Then things fall into place and you begin to float.
The conversation ebbs and flows. You ask questions and listen. Verse come to your mind, ones you never even knew you had memorized. The Spirit is there, present. He helps, guides.
Desperation
Maybe during the conversation a difficult topic comes up, or you’re asked a question you don’t know the answer to. You stumble over your words. Your mind goes blank. Here comes desperation.
Your mind whirls with a repeated plea of “God help me” or “God give me words”. You continue to speak because you’re already in too deep anyway, but your words don’t seem enough.
Exhilaration
After the conversation is over and they respond with either acceptance or rejection, you walk away with a thrill. There’s a rush of sweet relief, of adrenaline. It was hard. Maybe even painful. But you did it! You faced your fears and obeyed the Spirit’s leading.
Now you’re ready for anything. You maybe even consider evangelizing again someday.
Doubt
Then some time passes—seconds, days, weeks—and the flood of emotion drains. All that remains is a pulsating worry.
What if you didn’t evangelize well enough? What if you said something wrong? Left out something important? What if they responded well to your message but then fall away? Would it be your fault?
Dependence
This struggle with doubt and guilt drives you to your knees. You realize that of course your words were not enough. You’re not enough. You’re not able to save anybody. You’re not able to change anybody’s heart.
Your adrenaline is gone. Your confidence is shattered. The only thing left is a dependence. You pray for God to use you despite your brokenness and that He in His grace, draws the sinner to himself.
Then you get up and continue to plant seeds, letting Him give the growth.
Learn more about planting seeds.
Read about me realizing my insufficiency to save.
Read about me evangelizing to my students:
