In this video, Dr. David Strain offers encouragement for the long haul in the challenges of pastoral ministry.
Rest and sustainability in the long haul of pastoral ministry is a challenge for all of us as we serve the Lord Jesus. There’s a cost involved in faithful ministry, but pastors find their rest the same place Christians are to find their rest. Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).
It’s easy for ministers handling sacred things, using the name of God, preaching the Holy Scriptures, for them to become mere tools of the trade and lead others to water and forget to drink ourselves. And so the place to start as we think about finding soul rest is with our walk with Christ—keeping short accounts with God, making sure that we are drinking deeply from the deep well of life in God’s holy Word, seeking His face in prayer, and being ourselves faithful in our use of the means of grace.
We are professionals as it were on a Sunday, but Sunday is still the Sabbath for us. And as we preach the Word, as we pray, as we serve God’s people, the Lord is dealing with us. This is His call in our lives, and we observe the Sabbath day by fulfilling our calling on the first day of the week. And the Lord promises to meet us there and give us grace to help us rest on Him and be faithful in His service.