For some of you, yesterday was a difficult day. Something happened (or has been happening) within your congregation that makes your ministry difficult. If that’s where you are today, here are a few suggestions:
- Pray much today, asking God to teach you and grow you. Even in the toughest situations with people who are simply sinful, we can learn something. Lean on God all day long.
- Don’t overreact with emotion. Your emotion may be justified, but don’t let it lead to bad decisions. Don’t let somebody else’s issues create more difficulty for you.
- Talk with somebody. I realize you may not be in a position to talk about everything, but find somebody with whom you can share your burden. Let a friend encourage you.
- Realize what Satan wants to accomplish in your life. No matter what you faced yesterday, the enemy wants to discourage and defeat you. It’s your call whether you let that happen.
- Read some of your favorite Bible texts. I know this suggestion sounds simplistic, but that’s the point. Go back to a basic strategy of letting the Word of God speak to you as it has in the past.
- Work hard to reflect on anything positive that happened yesterday. Ask God to help you see His hand rather than the tough stuff. Even a glimpse of His work will help you deal with the negatives.
- Begin making plans to address the issues. Some situations demand follow up, and I’m not suggesting you ignore that need in your church. I’m simply saying that you need to think through your reactions and respond wisely.
What other steps would you take?
Thank you Dr. Lawless! This is a great list. I have also found talking with a trusted church member for their reflection on the day or incident helps. Often what we as pastors see as a huge deal was not as bad as it seemed at the time. Thank you for your blog it is a great encouragement to me every day.
Pray for the people in your congregation who are making your ministry difficult. They may not realize it but a sinful, fallen human nature, a deceitful heart, and a busy devil are conspiring together not just to hurt you but also themselves and their church.
Thanks, Robin!
This article resonates today. For yesterday’s message on Pentecost I had prepared as thoroughly as I ever had for any message in my life. I watched the message over last night and have to say that God the Holy Spirit was present in the house. Then this morning, on not one but three matters unrelated to yesterday’s worship, a senior person chose to raise comments which seemed to me to be designed to exercise control and stifle progress rather than to work in the missional spirit of Pentecost. How sad that time is absorbed in what we in the UK refer to as “jobsworth” issues – the kind where someone says “It’s more than my job’s worth to leave matters without interfering.” To any pastor having a difficult day after a difficult Sunday I say only this – remember the words of 1 Peter 2:9-10 and that, as pastor, you nurture and lead “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Be not dismayed!
Thanks, David. Blessings!