Have you ever felt alone?
I know the better question is: when was the most recent time you felt all alone?
Was it last week? Yesterday? This morning?
It is miserable to feel all alone. And maybe it hurts just as much or even more to be with and around people and still feel unheard, unseen, invaluable and all alone.
Christians are not immune to this. And neither are pastors. In fact some might contend that pastors feel the weight of loneliness more than many.
Unless someone has been a pastor, it is hard for them to understand the burden that pastors carry. Pastors face the difficulty of the assignment, compounded by circumstances, the attacks of the devil, the complexity of the people and of course their own humanness.
It is overwhelming sometimes to even think about how impossible the task before us and how even if some people kind of understand what we are going through, we still feel the weight of having to face the difficult things more or less alone:
No one else can do the praying, preaching, shepherding, conflict management, administration that God has called us to do. Even though we can and must delegate, there are still certain things that God has placed before us, and there is a measure of fatigue and loneliness at times when fulfilling these tasks.
But of course the good news is that which we share with our people all the time: we are never alone. God is with us. God is for us. God is in the hearts of those who are born again. But sometimes we just want another believer, another pastor to stand with us, or sit with us, or cry with us. Sometimes we just want to know that someone cares more about us than the other distractions and duties in their lives.
I know I blow it more often than not in this category. The opportunities abound for me to listen to others, comfort them, share their burden. But far too often I hurry along. Lord have mercy on me!
And may the Lord be gracious and merciful to each of His under-shepherds. May God help us pastors know we are not alone because of His presence and because of fellow ministers who understand, who are praying and who are with us (in spirit and hopefully in body as well).
I pray that the loneliness you feel will be dispelled by a God-sent person who is willing to sit with you and share God’s hope and Spirit with you as well!
We’re not alone
Here within His love
Emmanuel
He is still with us
Lyrics from “Here in the Presence” by Elevation Worship
Please feel free to message me at pastorencouragement@gmail.com if I can be a listening ear and someone who helps you dispel the loneliness.
Pastor Encouragement 