What should a Pastor do?

Pray!
If there is a friend (also a Pastor, so he might understand better) talk and pray with him.
Then Read the Word and Pray some more.

This is from the standpoint of a lay-person, but it seems the right thing to do . . .
(of course, we all have to be reminded about the Read and Pray part, especially the Lay-persons [people?])

 

Not knowing all about the situation, I'd first take some time away. A sabbatical might be just what the doctor ordered. Refresh and recharge the spiritual batteries, then take a lecture or read a good work on preaching. Then, seek out Godly counsel relative to the present position. It may be time to move on, or it may not be. But sometimes some time away and some time to recharge and refocus is all a pastor needs.

 

Confide in two or three dear friends about it. Then take it to the Lord in Prayer and try to focus on what the Holy Spirit is saying. Easier said than done though.

 

Any of those options could be what the Spirit is leading to. Prayer is necessary to find out, as is, I think, the counsel of wise friends.

At minimum I should think that a period of prayer and fasting that is free from the responsibilities of ministerial life is called for, just so you can focus on the question at hand: What is the problem?

After all, the feelings being expereienced may not be the problem but only symptoms of a deeper problem.

Then the question can be asked: What to do about the problem?

 

Perhaps you could take the question to the Pastors Private Forum, where we could ask more pointed questions and you could be more open. There is also the added benefit of knowing you are sharing with other pastors who can understand.

Pastork

 

This is just my 10 cents worth, but I would try and stick it out. Every situation is different, but I find I cannot put to much value on how I feel at the time. A sabbatical could be in order because these feelings can come as a result of being worn out. Definately prayer is always good, because perhaps it is time to move on. I hope you find the Will of God on it and I'm sure you will. May He give you power and fire from within! Grace to you, WP p.s. Jesus knows how you feel. John 4:6,31-34

 

A pastor should not ask God to remove the burden only for God to give bigger shoulders to bear. the pastor cannot be a quiter or the people that he has pastored will begin to despise Men of God. He has been placed there and God does NOT go back on his descions.

 

The way I figure--if a Holstein mommma cow is dried up in the front forty--she'll be just as dry in the back forty! Dive into the word and it'll freshen ya up--give a few more gallons of milk come afternoon milkin'!

Your friend,
Blackbird

 

Having studied this week on Rev 2:17, the church at Ephesus, I believe there is an appropriate command in that passage for those who have forsaken their passion for God: Remember, repent and act like it.

It is true, for the most part, that if someone is dry somewhere, they will be dry somewhere else after the initial excitement wears off. Many people treat marriages in a similar way. They say, I will divorce this person because I don't love them anymore and will find someone else that i do love. The reality is that they have pursued a wrong basis for marriage to begin with (feelings of love rather than teh commitment of biblical love) and are pursuing a wrong remedy.

In a different church, the names may change, the building may be different, but the problems will be the same. I am not saying that a sabbatical would be inappropriate. But to bail just because he has lost heart or vision is a spiritual problem and should be dealt with spiritually. Unless the whole community is saved and spiritually mature, then there is work to be done and the heart for it must be cultivated.

 

David,
I wrote a lengthy email, but for some reason it was blocked from sending by the Board.

Please contact me at jimbo@kingston.net

Cheers,

Jim

 

Find things to stir up the Spirit of God. It wont always be an uphil climb. The Bible says, " I press on..." that word press means like a plowing through. So what you must do is Press on and get stirred up.

 

Confront your expectations.
An expectation is a demand with a time frame.
That is, you have a demand, and you want your demand accomplished within a certain time.
If you have expectations about the ministry that God did not birth in your heart, then you will likely be frustated when things don't turn out like you want them to.
Unfulfilled expectations are a big cause of burn out.

PR 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

PS 37:4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Some think that if we delight in the Lord, He will give us what we want. But, instead, if we make Him our delight, then He will put in our heart what He desires us to have, and we will want what He wants.