You Are Not Alone!
When I woke up this morning, I felt the Holy Spirit prompt me to write a post. Honestly, I don’t think I have ever written a blog post exactly like this one. To me it feels less like a post and more like a prophetic word. So here goes…
Have seen the recent statistic about pastors from the Carey Niewhoff blog? According to data David Kinnaman shared on the Church Pulse Weekly podcast, not only are leaders discouraged, but 29% of pastors have given serious consideration to quitting full-time ministry in the last year.’
Can you imagine? Almost one-third of all pastors are thinking about doing something other than ministry? If you find yourself in that one-third category, let me speak into your life for a moment!
#1 - You Are Not Alone - Everyone Feels This Way At Some Point!
The enemy is a liar. He says to say to us, "You are are the only one who feels like this. Everyone else has it all together. You are falling apart. Your ministry is falling apart. People are leaving your ministry. Critics are exposing your faults. No one else has these struggles! No one else is facing the temptations you are facing.”
This is a lie from the pit of hell!
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful!” We all face temptation. Everyone gets criticized. All pastors have people leave their ministry. It’s just part of the package.
As someone who has served as a Lead Pastor for thirty years, I can tell you that these things are common and they never stop happening. The key is not preventing pain, but learning how to process it and re-frame it so that you see it through God’s eyes.
One of the major keys to longevity is perseverance. Come back to the truth that God is faithful. He does not waver in His commitment to you based on how others respond to you or even how you feel about yourself.
#2 - You Are Not Alone - We Care About You!
My favorite Christmas movie is the Jimmy Stewart classic, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” I watch it every Christmas Eve. Every time I view it, I cry at the end. The movie reminds me of a few things:
First of all, you can’t always see what your efforts are doing in the lives of individuals, families, and generations. In the movie, George Bailey, the main character, gets the gift of seeing what life would have been like for others if he had not been born. It wasn’t pretty. He was more significant than he thought he was.
Second, "No man is a failure who has friends!” I don’t want to spoil the plot by giving away the end of the movie, but you have had about 70 years to see this film, so here goes: Due to a mistake of by his Uncle Billy, George Bailey owes the bank $8000. He can’t pay the money. He considers all of his options, including taking his own life. But his friends spread the word that George is in trouble and everyone in town shows up with a gift to help their friend in his time of need. The final scene of the movie shows George receiving a gift from Clarence, and on it is this statement - “No man is a failure who has friends!”
You need to know that you are not alone! There are people who care about you. If they knew what you are feeling right now, they would run to your aid and stand by your side. Let me say that I am one of those people. If you need to talk to someone, or need to know that there are people out there who care, please reach out to me.
WE CARE ABOUT YOU! We don’t want you to walk through this alone. God is faithful. Not everyone else is. But without a doubt, there are people who are faithful to you and love you.
#3 - You Are Not Alone - The Next Generation Needs You!
The biblical story that comes to mind when I think about giving up, is the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19. This was Elijah’s moment of greatest discouragement. Surprisingly, it came immediately following his most powerful success.
Elijah prophesied a drought for three years and God honored it.
Then Elijah prayed down fire on Mt Carmel in a show down with the prophets of Baal.
After that, he prayed for rain and it rained at his request.
But after all that effort and success, Elijah is ready to give up. He asks God to take his life, because he is exhausted and feels alone. God speaks to him in a whisper and asks him: (1 Kings 19:13-18)
“What are you doing here, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”
God reminds Elijah that he is not alone but that there are 7000 who are still following God and are on his side. God also gives him an assignment. This assignment does not address the frustrations with the past, or the feelings of the present. It is all about the future. It’s like God is saying to Elijah, “Get your eyes off of yourself and look toward what I am about to do.”
He gives Elijah three assignments that deal with the future. Two have to do with kings and strategic solutions. The final assignment has to do with a successor. God was saying, ‘Stop looking for people who will affirm you and start looking for people who will imitate you. You need to disciple the young one; the emerging leader; the person who is hungry to learn and grow.”
#4 - You Are Not Alone - We Need You!
Remember that everyone feels like giving up from time to time. What if everyone did? What if all 29% of pastors actually did quit? What would that do to the work of the Kingdom? Please don’t give up! We need you! Let me say it again. Don’t give up! We need you!!!
If you need someone to talk to? If you need a friend? If you want a spiritual dad or mom? We are here for you. Reach out because we would love to be on your team!