HANDLING THE PRESSURES OF MINISTRY
INTRODUCTION
Permit me to start with the generalization that every minister of the gospel is under pressure. That is not necessarily bad because not all pressure is negative. To achieve your purpose in life, you have as well as put yourself under some pressure (Phil. 3:13-14).
J. Hudson Taylor, the great pioneer missionary to China, gave a perspective to pressure worthy of note:
"It matters not how great the pressure is, only where the pressure lies. If we make sure it never comes between us and our Lord, then the greater the pressure, the more it presses us to Him." (2 Corinthians 4:1, 7-10)
MEN UNDER THE JUNIPER TREE
Though the popular statistics of pastors caving in to pressure and quitting the ministry may be exaggerated, it is true that a lot of pastors are serving under great pressure and some are, like Elijah, under the Juniper tree. When ministry pressure is not properly handled, it could lead to depression, anger, frustration, marital disharmony, sin, sickness,and even sudden death.
Apostle Paul stands out as one who experienced the pressures of ministry but there is no account that he buckled under any. That he managed those pressures and excelled in spite of them gives to every minister.
DEALING WITH PRESSURE
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To locate your pressure point, I invite you to sincerely answer the following questions:
- Do you feel drained or crushed by the demands of Ministry?
In life and ministry, demands increase; they don't decrease. But Apostle Paul gave the key to resilience in 2 Corinthians 4:16, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day". Spend more time in prayer and in the Word. Retreat and refresh. Let Jesus make te burden light.
- Do you often feel that you are not good enough for you assignment?
Draw your confidence from God who has made you an able minister of the New Testament. It is not wise to compare yourself with others. When you are assailed by a feeling of inadequacy, confess your sufficiency in Christ and tap into the power of self-affirmation.
- Are you tempted to grow the church by unscriptural means?
Many pastors have done unspeakable things to grow teir church, a lot of it driven by the spirit of competition and envy.
Ecclesiastes 4:4- 6;
And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves.
Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
To manage your growth pressure, have a balanced definition of ministry successes. And when you have done all you know to do, depend on God for increase.
- Do you feel frustrated that you don't have enough money to live your dreams and achieve your goals?
It is a paradox that no visionary pastor ever has "enough money" for his assignment, yet every pastor that will achieve great result must have the mentality that he has "enough money" for the work. Work with what you have without putting yourself into debts and rest in faith that God will provide everything you need. While waiting for it, embrace contentment (1 Timothy 6:6-10).
- Do you have a sense of failure because of certain contradictions in your life?
It could be delay in getting married or having children, loss of a family member or physical disability, in fact, anything that poses a challenge to your faith. Remember that you were called to preach Jesus, not yourself. Be assured that God is still at work in you and that situation will be for the furtherance of the expressions gospel (Hebrews 12:2-3, 2 Corinthians 4:5)
CONCLUSION
Let me conclude by making three suggestions that should ordinarily be taken for granted:
Have someone senior to you in ministry who gives you pastoral oversight and can help you see things differently. Notice that most of the scriptures reference above were pastoral counsel.
Have a support system that you can fall back on when you are under pressure. I can't think of anyone more qualified to lead that group than your spouse (2 Corinthians 7:5-6).Align your perspective to God's perspective. Like Paul says, "it's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life" (Phil. 4:7).
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