When involved in the ministry, it can be easy to go from times of inspiring, fulfilling work to moments of isolation and loneliness. So as servants of God, what should we do when left without direction nor a glimmer of understanding? How do we find that flicker of direction and hope amid the darkness of doubt? On the Shelf speaks to the pastor, evangelist, ministry worker, Sunday school worker, and all involved in Gods work as they become involved in moments of confusion and downtime. Author and pastor James E. Brooks shares his own experience feeling isolated from his pastorate and from God due to a period of inactivity, and he helps fellow Christians in ministry to make sense of those dark times of doubt and confusion when God has seemed to place them on the shelf of inactivity after fast-paced involvement in the ministry. Like a potter is sometimes not ready to use clay that is ready, instead wrapping it in wet burlap and placing it in a damp, darkened place until the potter is ready to resume the process of construction, development, and creation, God is not always ready to use us for ministry. If you find yourself on this shelf, be assured that the Master Potter has a plan for your life to be renewed. We must only stay faithful and trust in his processthere will come a day when the waiting is over, and when life on the shelf will be replaced with a purpose.