Internal Ministry Stress
by Jeff Faull
Peter Drucker, the late leadership guru, said that the four hardest jobs in America are, President of the United States, University President, CEO of a hospital, and a Pastor.
He did not reveal how he arrived at that conclusion but as elders and ministers we might feel a level of vindication from reading his statement. While every kind of work has its challenges, the job of a church leader is uniquely demanding.
Consider some of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:
“Are they servants of Christ? — I speak as if insane — I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” 2 Corinthians 11:23-27
Most of us have not endured those kinds of pastoral experiences, however there are two more verses here.
Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? 2 Corinthians 11:28-29, emphases added
I would suggest that this second part of Paul’s litany of pressures was actually more demanding on him than some of his perilous adventures.
They are in addition to normal life stressors.
They are internal not just external.
They are daily not just occasional or incident driven.
They are exponential.
They are vulnerable to the decisions of others.
They are intensely personal and conscientious in nature.
Finally, the pressures are uniquely spiritual, unquantifiable, and somewhat hard to express.
Like the Apostle Paul we are concerned for people and for churches.
Like Lot our righteous souls are vexed daily.
Like the prophet Ezekiel we are sighing and crying for our sin.
Like Jesus we encounter seasons of anguish and we are acquainted with grief.
Like Epaphras we are wrestling for believers in prayer.
Like the Galatians we are bearing burdens of others.
Like Moses and Paul we long for the salvation of our own.
Like all the saints we are human.
Like Paul we are jealous for our people with a godly jealousy.
Like New Testament believers we are trying to discern the perfect will of God.
All of those are appropriate for elders and ministers, but they take a toll on our mental and emotional energy levels. Thankfully Paul gives us two mindsets that are invaluable for dealing with the pressure.
The first is that God’s grace is sufficient for the pressures of leadership.
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
The second is that we are making an eternal difference.
“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.” 2 Corinthians 12:15
Be encouraged fellow pastors. You are not alone as you shepherd the flock of God.
