Dear Pastor,
Here is the thing about ministry: it’s never done. When we leave the office at night or get a phone call in the middle of the night, or head out on vacation, the work is never done. We may check a few things off our list, but many of the things we check off will be right back on the list next week. There is a monotony in ministry that can be overwhelming. Furthermore, I once heard it said that often times pastors “burnout” more because of lack of progress than even because of overworking.
The reality is that when we feel like we are making progress it gives us a sense of accomplishment and helps to recharge our batteries to keep going. So here is what I want to encourage you in:
- Do something every day that you can “measure”. It’s hard to measure people’s spiritual growth and its hard to measure the overall health and vitality of a ministry/congregation. But what can be measured is how many people you have contacted or met with. We can measure how many cards of encouragement we sent out. We can see when our desk is clean and our inbox is empty or not. Go out of your way each and every week to do something you can see and measure.
- Remember that if you are doing ministry according to the things that release the power of God you can know that you are accomplishing more than you know. In other words, if you are sharing the gospel fully and unashamedly and if you are praying/fasting regularly for God’s glory and His kingdom advancement, God Himself is watching over your efforts and causing an effectiveness you can’t necessarily see and won’t necessarily know for a while.
Thank you for pressing on, when it seems like nothing is happening and you just want to quit. Thank you for not giving up or giving in. Remember to get on your knees and cry out to the Lord when the feelings of discouragement or oppression come heavy upon you. Remember to replace untrue, negative thoughts with the true and lovely thoughts of God’s holy Word. Remember to reach out to other pastors and ministers to find mutual edification in times of difficulty.
And above all, remember that God is the one who is so powerfully at work in you, around you, on your behalf and of course on behalf of His name and glory and kingdom. Don’t become discouraged but press on in the power of Jesus’ name! Remember that He is able and He will do it!
Christ is with us, Christ is in us
Mike J
Pastor Michael Johnson 