What’s so hard about being a pastor?

“What’s so hard about being a pastor?”

That is a loaded question for sure!

There have perhaps been times you have been insulted by someone with this question. I also believe there have probably been times when you have leveled this question against yourself in condemnation. And then again perhaps it is simply an honest question needing to be answered so that our ministry to others in Jesus’ name can be healthy. 

One thing that is so hard about being a pastor is that (at least in the mind of the pastor) everyone expects that the pastor live a “perfect” example, preach eloquently and persuasively, draw people in like the pied piper, make peace amongst the most bitter opponents and somehow do it all with a smile on their face! In a nutshell, being a pastor is hard because of expectations. Sometimes the expectations are unrealistic, other times they are the very difficult and necessary actions that define being a pastor. Expectations are hard to manage, but as pastors, we need to live and serve to glorify God and fulfill His expectations. And here is the things about God: He is gracious, full of love and He offers everything that we need to live out what He asks of us.

Another thing that is so hard about being a pastor is that much of what we do is slow and behind the scenes. We plant seeds and water them. We pray with people and for people. We teach people the Word and wait on people to respond in faith and for God to move in His own way and timing. Ministry is not like manufacturing or construction where there is a start and finish to the project. Ministry takes time, involves a lot of mystery and relies on the eternal and supernatural ways of God. It also relies on the patient perseverance of people living out God’s kingdom ways even when there is no direct visible evidence of “success” or “progress”. And yet we don’t do what we do in order to succeed or because of some philosophical notion like “upward mobility”. Instead, we pastor because God called us to and because people need to hear the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The last difficulty I will mention here (although there are of course hundreds of other difficulties) is that pastoring is hard because of spiritual warfare. Pastor’s have a bullseye on their back and the devil wants to destroy them. The devil wants to destroy, marriages, churches, and pastors. Another difficulty here is that spiritual warfare is often “invisible”. We can feel its effects and consequences and yet we can’t fight it with traditional weapons and many times we are caught of guard by the sneak attacks of the enemy. Dear Pastor, you and I have to put on the full armor of God, we have to stand our ground, we have to let the Lord defend and protect us. We must stand upon the promises of God and persevere through the pain and hardships. Remember that Christ is our Victor and in Him, we are victorious conquerors and as we prevail we will be in a place to help others prevail as well. 

Thank you, Pastor, for pressing on even when it is hard. Please know that more people understand your burden and pain than you might realize and more people are praying for you than you know. Finally, remember that God Himself is able to do infinitely more than we can ask or think or imagine, so keep on, in Jesus’ name and watch as God reveals His power and glory!

Christ is with us, Christ is in us!

Mike J