We just finished the month of October, when many churches celebrate “Pastor Appreciation Month.” I was encouraged by the social media posts I saw from churches who blessed their pastors well over the course of the past month.
And yet I know there are pastors who already are feeling deflated and defeated – whose churches did not even offer so much as a word of thanks – throughout the course of the month. As you see pastor friends who were celebrated well, this can add to an already crushing feeling.
But, pastor, don’t lose heart. While recognition from those we serve is always appreciated, that is not why anyone serves the local church. Rest assured that Jesus sees how you shepherd His church. He sees those late-night texts, emails and phone calls you take. He sees your visit at the hospital with the woman on her death bed, even though she is unable to respond. There are thousands of things that happen over the course of the year in a pastor’s life that no one else will know about. Jesus sees and He knows.
Keep on serving well. Keep on persevering. You’ve heard this time and time again, but the basics deserve repeating: reach, pray, love and stay.
Be encouraged by these words from the apostle Paul: “Do not grow weary in doing good” (2 Thess. 3:13).
You are loved and appreciated by us here at NAMB! We want to help encourage and equip you to continue in your ministry. Each quarter, we give away a free book to pastors.
This quarter, the book is Evangelism as Exiles: Life on Mission as Strangers in Our Own Land, by Elliot Clark. You can order it for free here.
Published November 4, 2022
