The Crisis Every Pastor Will Face
I have a theory: every pastor will go through a crisis. The people will turn against him. He will face significant opposition. He will be brutally attacked and discouraged. He may even get fired. It seems this is the rule, not the exception, in pastoral ministry. Hopefully, it won't happen to you more than once, but it should be expected.
The question is, what do we do when we face such a crisis? Jeremiah 15 gives us some clues.
A Servant’s Complaint
As you're probably aware, Jeremiah didn't have an easy ministry. His prophetic office led him to be hated. Even his own family rejected him. People plotted against his life and he faced bitter opposition. He felt so discouraged that he despaired of life itself. He wished he hadn’t been born (15:10-18).
None of this was Jeremiah’s fault. Jeremiah was obedient. It wasn't a sign that he was doing something wrong. He was true to his calling.
This is the nature of ministry. We’re not in charge of how people respond. Sometimes God gives us hard tasks where we feel alone and people don't react kindly. We may also face rejection from those who are close to us. It could happen to you.
In Jeremiah's case, the opposition really got to him. He became so discouraged that he despaired of his life and began to accuse God of letting him down when he needed him most. He compared God to a brook that dries up in the summer and can't be relied upon (15:18). His discouragement left him despairing of his own life and distrustful of God.
You may experience similar feelings. Ministry can make us feel hopeless and even lead us to start doubting the God who called us to serve him.
God’s Answer
How did God respond to Jeremiah's discouragement? God responded in two ways: with a rebuke and a recommissioning.
First, he rebuked Jeremiah severely. Jeremiah had gone too far in his self-pity and had neglected his responsibilities. The Lord called him to return and promised that if he did, he would be restored (15:19). Scripture allows honest complaints to the Lord, but we shouldn't cross the line of accusing God in our despair.
But God didn't only correct Jeremiah; he gave him a new mission with words that were very much like those from when he first called him (15:20-21; compare to 1:18-19). God promised to protect him, deliver him, and strengthen him for the tasks ahead.
Paul says something similar in 2 Timothy 2:1: “You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” If we're going to survive in ministry, we need God's strength, and God is always ready to give us all the strength we need to fulfill our tasks.
Pastor, don't be surprised when ministry is hard. There will be times when you feel discouraged and defeated. There might even be times when you despair of life and begin to lose hope in the God who called you.
Don't sin in your discouragement. Instead, ask God to recommission you and protect you. Suffering in ministry is normal, but the unbearable weight of ministry and the sustaining grace of God go hand in hand. Keep going, and don't despair.
