Weights wear and tear on my emotions, physical energy, creativity, and financial resources. In Paul’s personal ministry to Timothy, he challenged him about being distracted by the opposition in his church. Timothy had reached a place of feeling intimidated by those who challenged his ministry. It was affecting his health, but more consequentially it was smothering his gift. There is some evidence that Timothy was ready to flee the church he was called to pastor because of these weights and their affect on his gifting.

Paul gave Timothy some advise that we should all heed. Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim 1:6-7, NKJV). To stir up the gift could literally be translated “fan to a flame the gift which is in you.” He still had a gift, but it was smothered by the weight of ministry.

I often talk to leaders who feel they have lost their way. They have lost their first love and passion for ministry. Some wonder if they are in fact called to the ministry at all. For so many, they have simply lost touch with their gift. Like Timothy, they let the fire of their gift be smothered by the pressures of ministry. They don’t need to leave the ministry; they simply need to rekindle the fire. When the fire of God burns hot in their soul they will once again feel the spirit of power, love, and a sound mind. In the warmth of that fire, they can redefine ministry and focus on that which is their gifting. (read entire article)