When Power Slips Through Your Fingers

Deanna’s health is under fire.
Our visible productivity feels like it’s shrinking.
But something deeper is happening.

We’re learning to live and lead in ways that please God more deeply.
We’re preparing—by His grace—for another season of fruitfulness.

Still… powerlessness feels so wrong.

Why Powerlessness Shakes Us

1. We Like Power.

We want to shape outcomes.
We want influence.
We want the advantage to do good things, and sometimes we even feel called to overpower others in Jesus’ name.

From Cain and Abel…
To Jacob and Esau…
To Joseph’s betrayal…
To Saul’s jealousy…
To the Pharisees who silenced Jesus…

The power struggle is as old as the Bible itself.

2. We Feel Our Rights Are Being Violated.

We expect fairness—as citizens, spouses, church members, human beings.

We want to be respected.
To be heard.
To receive solid teaching at church.

So when our voice gets dismissed or our visibility fades, everything in us cries,
“This isn’t right.”

I’ve spent most of my life in places of influence.
So when life moves me toward less, my instincts push back.
More visibility feels like progress.
Less feels like failure.

3. We Love Being Productive.

Sincere, godly people want to bear fruit.
We feel responsible to make a difference.

So when our health, reputation, or platform is taken,
it feels like we’re no longer useful to the Kingdom.

That hurts.

But What If God Is Behind the Pruning?

“Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes so that it may bear even more fruit.”
—John 15:2 (NASB)

God disciplines to correct what’s behind us—mercy.
And He disciplines to prepare us for what’s ahead—hope.

We are not being punished.
We are being prepared.

Another World Breaking In

Sometimes we catch glimpses of the future He’s forming in us.
But it feels like it’s from another world.

And it is.

The Kingdom of God is not a theory.
It’s breaking into this one.

God is walking us up the narrow road,
past the glitter of lesser powers,
toward the Tree of Life.

This is the ancient path.
The way of Jesus.

Deanna’s Journey to Healing

This week, we got a surprising call.
Deanna’s bloodwork showed her body needs more time to recover before the next chemo round.

We were confused.
She had done better this cycle, with no emergency room visits or fever, so this delay felt unfair.
Like powerlessness, again.

We’ve pushed our plans back another week.
And we’re learning to trust God’s hidden work beneath the surface.

Email: rick.bergen@xtrememercy.com

Prayer Request

• Healthy, sustainable church-planting in the Amazon
• Jesus‑style leaders raised up everywhere
• Complete healing for Deanna

A Table in the Wilderness

David wrote:

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” (Psalm 23:5a).

Not in safety.
Not in a palace.

But in the presence of pressure,
The King sets the table.

A feast is prepared.
Not despite pruning…
But because of it.

For Deanna and me.
For our people.

For you.
And for yours.

We are safe.
We can relax.
We can let down our guard.

You know that good feeling of being around people you trust?

Let’s sit at God’s table together.
Let’s trust the King.
Let’s enjoy.

If this message encouraged you,
forward it to a friend or mentor.
Remind them: God is already making a way.

To Support our Ministry