Oh NOOOOOO!!

Most members assume that the pastor doesn't have to face the same stuff that the rest of the people face. And if he does, well, he's the pastor, he can handle it. I've heard of pastors walking off of their platforms never to return to face their world again. A pastor is on call 24/7, deals with life and death situations, tries to encourage depressed people in impossible situations. Yet he always expected to be upbeat, isn't allowed to have a "bad day", is expected to be the example for others to follow without making any mistakes. I can understand why pastors burn fuses, go over the edge, and fail in peoples eyes. The apostle Paul tells us of some of his afflictions and trials. In 1 Corinthians 11:23-28 he tells of his beatings, imprisonments, danger of death, in danger of robbers, sleepless nights among other things. Then he says something amazing in verse 28. "Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me of concern for the churches." He is saying that the pressure and care for the church is more difficult to deal with than all of the external sufferings that he had to deal with. I'm not asking for sympathy here, but just take into consideration that pastors are human, we eat, put on our trousers and shit just like everybody else. Allow us the same grace for change and growth that others are given. Be patient with us and give us a brake like you do with others. The pressure that Paul talks about is real, more real than what the normal church member will ever have to face. Philippians 2:13 says "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." Isn't it a joy to serve others!