Episode Description: Do the stresses and challenges of ministry life ever make you want to throw up your hands and shout, “I quit!”? We all can certainly struggle sometimes with exhaustion, frustration, and lack of motivation in this pastor wife role. Check out Married to the Ministry for encouragement when you’re weary in the work God’s called you to.
Hello!
Do you ever get tired of being in ministry and doing good work for the Kingdom?
- You may be tired of pouring into people who constantly complain or just don’t seem to want to grow deeper in their walk with Christ.
- You may be hurting because a key family in your congregation has been visiting another church.
- You may dread waking up to rain on Sunday mornings because you know your husband will be stressed about lower attendance and giving and meeting the budget that week.
- You may feel like you’re wasting your time in a church that rarely baptizes anyone.
- You may be tired of sharing your husband with So. Many. Other. People!
Sometimes the stresses and challenges of ministry life can make me want to throw up my hands and shout, “I quit!”
If you’re feeling drained from the work God has called you to, this doesn’t surprise Him! The Lord knows ministry can be exhausting, so He gave us encouragement in His word.
In Galatians 5, Paul writes to a church where believers are disagreeing over points of law and doctrine. He tells them to walk by the Spirit and to love one another. Y’all, church bickering is nothing new!
Then in chapter 6 we’re reminded that whatever we sow, that’s what we’ll reap. Verse 9 says “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
In 1 Timothy 6 Paul tells us to fight the good fight of faith and to instruct our people to do good and be rich in good works, which stores up for us the treasure of a good foundation for the future.
I don’t think we’re off the hook on this, even when we’re exhausted!
So if “doing good” has worn you out, if you’re weary from loving those who are difficult to love, from serving faithfully behind the scenes when others won’t, from playing single parent while your husband has another meeting, here are some steps that can help rejuvenate your spirit and reset your heart.
1-Take a break:
Step away from the hustle and rest. Jesus took time off to rest and pray, Elijah needed rest and restoration. Create margin in your schedule and in your brain. Let go of the stuff that’s stealing your joy. Consider your spiritual gifting and where you could serve instead using that gift.
2-Plug in:
You may be drained because your battery’s dead! Reconnect to Your power source. Rest in Him—Be still and know that I am God. Carve out time for meaningful times of personal worship, prayer, and Bible study.
3-Practice self-care:
Sleep, eat well, exercise, laugh, play, catch up with a dear friend. Splurge on a babysitter and get a massage or a manicure or a nap!
4-Renew your mind:
Stop thinking about all the problems and the things that aren’t perfect in your situation. Instead, consider what Jesus did for you—that will motivate you to share the good news with others. Keep a list of the good things that are happening around you and read over your list frequently. This is a great renewing your mind exercise. Focus more on how you are obeying what God’s commanded you to do as a Christ follower, as a wife, as a mother, as a ministry partner…instead of on the behavior of others. Make sure you’re doing what God requires of you and trust Him to work in other people. We are the planters, God is the harvester. I’m not responsible for what God’s doing in the lives of other people. Our job is to share and make disciples, but God is the one who adds to the Church and sanctifies us to be more like Him…in His time, not in ours.
Raise your hand if you can relate to this:
“We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed …
Now listen to this part:
“for we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh…therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day…for momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (2 Corinthians 4:8-18)
As Christians, we are soldiers engaged in spiritual warfare. And for those of us in ministry—we’re fighting on the front lines.
War is hard.
War is costly.
War is scary and relentless and dangerous.
God knows ministry gets hard, tiring, frustrating, but He encourages us to stick with it, to gird our loins for battle, to stay in the fight to encourage others.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:13 again tells us to not grow weary of doing good.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:3, the Lord is faithful, He will strengthen and protect us
- 1 Thessalonians 5:24–Faithful is He who calls you and He also will bring it to pass.
But God has called us to fight against the wiles of the Devil and Jesus gives us the victory!
So, pastor’s wife, if you’re tired in ministry, I hope this has encouraged you to let Jesus refresh your heart and restore your spirit so you can continue to serve Him and do good where He’s called you.
And along those lines, God has been leading me into a different season, so I’m going to step away from the podcast for now. But please go back and review past episodes you might have missed. Married to the Ministry will still be available on podcast platforms for you to listen and share. As your ministry life changes, different topics may become more relevant or encouraging to you. I’ve tried to cover most of the issues I’ve experienced that are common to the pastor wife life.
And in case no one’s told you lately…
Let me say “Thank you!” for serving alongside your husband and supporting the call of God on his life. From one sister in ministry to another, bless you for the sacrifices you make to be a pastor’s wife and for the good work you do for our Lord.
And thank you for spending time with me on this journey. I appreciate you for listening! Until we get to hang out again, keep loving Jesus, keep loving your dear husband, and keep loving your people!