I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
John 10:16
I had a great friend send me a verse this morning to encourage me. You know, there are times when pastors need encouragement. The Lord knew today was one of those days. When you look at your pastor, see him as a simple man trying to minister to those God entrusted to him. But things indeed happen along the way to rain discouragement and doubt. So what do you do?
Pray for your pastor
There is nothing more vital than the prayer of a believer for his pastor. Discouragement is a significant issue in a pastor’s life because he doesn’t have all the answers to each problem or situation in the church. However, there is an expectation that the church should meet the particular needs of everyone. I wish this were possible. As a pastor, there is nothing that I would want more than to meet everyone’s specific needs. But that is not possible. And when it isn’t, people will search for a place that seems to meet those needs. In reality, churches are imperfect organizations with imperfect people led by flawed leaders trying their best to follow the Lord. The church is a curious thing.
The truth is, your pastor is desperately trying to follow the Lord while steering the ship. Storms will come, waves will crash, and life happens in church just like it does in any organization. Pray for him because he needs it through the storms of trying to meet everyone’s needs in the church, his messages, the worship, and various offerings for infants, children, students, and adults. While this is not always possible in some churches, pray for your pastor because he desperately loves you and works tirelessly to provide the best best way he can.
Make no mistake. Ministry is one of the most rewarding things a person can do, but ministry cuts a pastor deeply when he cares about and loves his flock. When his flock hurts, he hurts.
This deep concern he has for his church is more than a CEO/employee relationship. Your pastor has been by your bed at a hospital, buried your loved ones, prayed for new infants, and baptized your children. It’s a family thing.
I’ll never forget the night I was called to meet a mother and father at a hospital after a horrific accident. Their oldest daughter died in the accident. What does a pastor say? What does anyone say? I prayed all the way to the hospital that God would give me something. ANYTHING. Just a word to say. Ministry is frequently messy and unpleasant. Pray for your pastor.
Pray for his wife
A pastor’s wife gets the worst of it. She gets to comfort, encourage, and motivate a tired, worn out, discouraged, and often demoralized husband who is just doing what the Lord is urging him to do. She has the most challenging job in the world. She sits and watches her husband do, work, pray, laugh, and cry. Her job is so important, and she is very protective. But this hurt and discouragement will often run through the veins of a pastor straight to his wife.
Pray for her to have the right words of encouragement for him. Her job is tough. Pastor’s wives are protective because they see the hurt firsthand. It’s often painful.
Pastors pray for your wives because they have to put up with you!
Pray for his encouragement
I’ve been in the ministry for over 30 years and have worked with some great pastors and some pastors who were not so great. I’ve worked with pastors who are ethically and spiritually men of integrity, and I’ve worked with pastors who crossed that line over into unethical and unspiritual practices such as taking money from the church. This degenerate and sinful behavior is generally the result of a heightened sense of narcissistic pride that accompanies a sense of “I can do no wrong, and I’m untouchable.” Pastors are prone to exhibit narcissistic behavior because they set themselves up as lords over their congregation rather than servants of the Lord placed there to serve others. But God knows, and God sees.
If you’re a pastor or staff member who works in a difficult situation, pray God would move you out of that place of discouragement.
I realize this post seems a bit selfish today because I’m talking about myself and pastors. And the ministry a pastor does is so incredibly exciting and rewarding. However, if you are part of a church, pray for your pastor. Talk with your pastor. Please don’t allow your pastor to experience the valleys by himself. Please don’t let your pastor find himself in a hole so deep he cannot get out. Love him, care for him, and pray for him. Don’t run away from him, run with him!
Pray for your pastor and his encouragement. He needs to be encouraged, and someone who first seeks the Lord in everything.
So what about the Scripture?
Well, your pastor should be helping you to realize there are people walking around in the world who need to know Jesus. It is that simple. The main objective of the church is to share the hope of Jesus to a world of people who desperately need Him. That should be primary. There are other ministries inside the church, but its primary ministry should be to share the gospel with others.
Will you help your pastor accomplish this mission?