Honest Thoughts from a Pastor

The hardest thing I have ever done in ministry is be bivocational, meaning I have a full-time job in addition to my vocational ministry role. As a full-time church staffer, it was easy to devote my attention to the church role wholeheartedly. While I want my whole heart and energy in the church role now, I tend to muster up the fumes after the stress of the normal workday.

When I went on my lunch break, I was burning at both ends. I reached out to a prayer partner who always has a direct word from God. Here is what she said – “It’s okay to be weak!” Tears rolled out of the corner of my eyes as she reminded me of this truth.

Here is the Apostle Paul’s experience. God allowed a “thorn in the flesh” into his life. Paul asked God 3 times to remove it. God told Paul that His grace is sufficient, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness. It’s okay to be weak, because it is an opportunity for God to show His glory and power.

Are you beating yourself up for being weak? Maybe you’re personalizing it or internalizing it. Don’t do that! Accept that God designed us to depend on Him. He gives us impossible tasks so He can show the world He takes impossible things in and through unlikely people.

Show yourself some grace! God does! While you are busy beating yourself up and putting unnecessary pressure on yourself, God is looking at an opportunity. Let God have His perfect way in you. Bring Him your weakness, and He will give you His strength.