There’s something humbling about an empty table. As a discipleship leader, you set the table with care—meticulously preparing your lessons, sharing heartfelt messages, and making space for others to grow in their faith. But often, the table remains empty. Sometimes, people show up; most of the time, they won’t.
It’s exhausting. You pour your heart into messages you hope will inspire, yet sometimes your words fall on deaf ears. You encourage, you guide, and you lead, but the silence after your efforts can feel deafening. And still, you keep going.
Why? Because this is the cost of discipleship.
Jesus Himself knows this cost better than anyone. His ministry wasn’t easy. He healed the sick, raised the dead, and preached the truth, yet He was mocked, rejected, and persecuted. The crowds that gathered to hear Him weren’t always there to stay. When things became difficult or uncomfortable, many turned away.
The apostles faced the same challenges. After Jesus ascended to Heaven, they carried the message of the Gospel to the ends of the earth, but it came at a price. They were ridiculed, imprisoned, stoned, and even killed. And yet, they pressed on, because they knew that the message of salvation was worth every sacrifice.
As discipleship leaders, we are no different. We are called to carry the same torch, even when it feels like we’re walking in darkness. It will be tiring. It will be frustrating. We will face challenges that make us question our purpose. But we must remember this: the God who called us into leadership is the same God who will sustain us through it.
He is faithful. He sees every effort, every sacrifice, and every tear. When the table feels empty, He is there. When the message seems ignored, He is working behind the scenes. When we feel like giving up, He reminds us of the ultimate truth—He never gave up on us.
Jesus endured the cross for our sake, and because of that, we can endure the challenges of leadership. The empty table is not a sign of failure; it’s an invitation to keep trusting, to keep serving, and to keep believing that God is moving in ways we cannot see.
So, yes, the journey is hard. Yes, the cost is high. But it’s worth it. Because when even one life is transformed, when one heart turns to God, the heavens rejoice, and we are reminded why we do what we do.
Leaders, do not give up. The One who called you is faithful, and He will carry you through. Keep setting the table. Keep leading. Keep trusting. Because we are not alone in this journey, and we are not laboring in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
“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 labor in the Lord is not in vain.”