Since the Mennonite Church USA convention in Kansas City, Mo., this summer there has been a pervasive sense of sadness within Mennonite Church USA.

This sadness is due to the feeling that there are irreconcilable differences between the liberal and conservative congregations that belong to Mennonite Church USA, mostly centered on sexuality issues and fear about what that ultimately will mean to the denomination.

Here are a few things to remember when these feelings creep up on us:

1. God has our best interest at heart: We all have seasons of disruptions in our personal lives. The same is true for our congregational and denominational lives. During these times, the best thing we can do is to be in constant prayer, searching for God’s direction through our difficulties. And if we listen well to his answers, we will eventually find ourselves in the best place there is, the place where God wants us to be.

2. God makes us uncomfortable to move us: The Bible is full of stories of difficulties that befell the Israelites. Often these times of difficulty were followed by times of great spiritual growth and prosperity. What is God trying to tell you? What is God trying to tell your congregation? What is God trying to tell Mennonite Church USA? Let’s prayerfully contemplate these questions along with study of the Word.

3. All human structures are temporary: Mennonite Church USA is a human structure. It will eventually fall away. Whether that happens now or sometime in the future, it will not last forever. However, God’s kingdom is permanent. God’s love endures forever. He will reign for eternity. Our trust is not in the things we humans have made but in the glory of God and his plan for the earth.

Ultimately, the conflict and fears surrounding Mennonite Church USA are proof that God is working in our midst. Let’s look with anticipation to where God is taking our congregations and denomination. What will he do? Where will he take us?

I can’t wait for the answer.

Gary Wolfer is moderator of South Central Conference. He has been an attender at Journey Mennonite Church, South Hutchinson, Kan., for more than 50 years and has acted as a lay leader in many different ministries. Professionally, Gary is a software engineer and technologist. Gary and his wife Kay have been married 34 years and have 3 children.