22 Jun Are you Tired? Consider This

1 Kings 19:3–Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.

I’m sure many of you have preached this before. Threat, high-energy encounter, physical exhaustion–together, they add up to depression or even worse, despair. Perhaps a better summary is this: Ministry today is hard. And the further we travel toward the end of time it will increase in its challenges.

I hear this sometimes in the voices of our pastors. Cluster meetings turn into gripe sessions–no joy, no victory, no God-sightings. Gossip, critical spirits, and defensiveness seem to reign. Where is God in this? Where is a sovereign view that says that even if everything is falling down around me, yet I will praise Him (Habakkuk 3:16-19)? Where is the rejoicing when the way is rough because of the spiritual character that is produced at such times (James 1)? Where is the focus on the “audience of one” concept that says even if everyone in my church is against me, I will take my stand because I know the Lord will cause me to stand (Ephesians 6:10ff; Ezekiel)?

If you are at such a point in your life that you talk about the great truths of God in your sermons or teaching times but are not living it daily, you are hindering the work of God in your church. If the joy of the Lord is no longer your strength, if most of your reflections on ministry are based on human assessment rather than spiritual discernment, then a shallow, carnal atmosphere will exist in your ministry.

As a fellow traveler who has experienced the challenges of ministry like you and has had times of tiredness, sometimes dangerous tiredness, I ask you to consider this:

1. Be honest with yourself about your condition. While we all need a safe place to unload our frustrations and hurts, we must find a place to do so with someone who will help us put them into a “God-perspective” and not just commiserate.

2. If you are so tired you don’t want to go on, take a break. Take at least a two-week vacation or even speak to your leadership about a sabbatical or leave of absence. Better to invest in an extended break than to struggle to function in this state. And the church and world will continue to function while you are gone. What would they do if you dropped dead?

3. Is it time to consider what aspect of ministry does excite you and get yourself in the position of serving in that capacity, even if it means moving to an associate role? Or is it time to reconsider whether you belong in professional ministry?

4. Do you, or you and your spouse, need to see a competent Christian counselor to walk through an assessment of what kind of toll the challenges you have faced have had on you?

5. Do you need to take a short retreat and allow God to ask you some tough questions, like “Why are you here?” How long has it been since you’ve heard the still, small voice?

My greatest concern is that in our pastorates and among our lay leaders there are nice people who may have success in business or other endeavors but have little or no spiritual vitality to their lives. And it is creating shallow, carnal, contentious church cultures. I ask again, where is God in the midst of all of this? Who is asking what He wants? Who is longing to hear His voice? Who is speaking daily of His great mercies and has a hopeful spirit because this same God who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead has promised to work in us today? Who is so saturated with the Scriptures that when they talk they speak the very word of God?

2 Chronicles 16:9–For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

We will never develop spiritual ministries until the Scriptures are our source of study, wisdom, and life, and the audience we live before consists of the Lord alone.