Thursdays with Todd Linn: 6 Ways to Deal with Discouragement as a Pastor

Even pastors can be discouraged by personal struggles, family challenges, and painful ministry disappointments. There are those especially difficult days when it seems we just can’t break through. Here are a few ways to press on when those painful days arrive:

1. Remember to pray. This seems obvious, but I know from my own experience how easy it is to neglect prayer when discouraged. We must remember the Enemy is relentless in his efforts to keep us from going to God in prayer. We experience a measure of victory every time we stand firm in the faith and, through prayer, cast our anxieties upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7-9).
2. Know God knows where you are. Naming the Lord, El Roi (“the God who sees me”), the Egyptian servant Hagar reminds us we serve a caring God who is with us in our discouragement (Genesis 16:13). When Elijah fell into despair and sought refuge in the solitude of a cave, twice the all-seeing God asked him, “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9, 13). The God who sees us in our discouragement is also with us in our discouragement and will lovingly lead us through it.
3. Listen to uplifting music. The psalmist shows us of the effect of music upon a discouraged heart (e.g., Psalms 27, 31, 34, 52, 55, 120, 147). When musical lyrics are shaped by God’s Word, the music is powerful and life-giving. I recall a particularly discouraging day when I had experienced a painful disappointment. Finding some uplifting praise music to listen to, I went out to the garage for a brief workout. I will always remember how the message in the music uniquely changed my mood that afternoon, lifting me out of the heavy darkness and leading me to raise my hands in joyful praise to God.
4. Remember God is still working through your ministry. Because discouragement often feels so oppressive, we may underestimate the good things God is doing in our ministry. Every time we preach, for example, we are feeding our hearers the very Word of God, and He is using His Word to accomplish His unfailing purposes (see Isaiah 55:11).
5. Recognize that discouragement can improve your preaching. To be clear, I’m not suggesting we share all our personal battles in the pulpit. Rather, because of our experiences, our sermons reflect a greater awareness of the kinds of discouragements common to our members. In fact, discouragement helps us identify with our members. Consequently, our messages find greater connectivity with them.
6. Share the gospel. Yes, we should be always sharing the gospel, but when we’re discouraged we tend to focus inward rather than outward. I have discovered nothing raises me from the doldrums of discouragement like sharing Jesus with someone. We are energized afresh and anew, having feasted upon the spiritual food of joyful ministry (cf. John 4:32) and remembering the wonder of God’s call upon our lives.

Pastors, what has helped you overcome discouragement? How might we pray for you if you are discouraged?