The Unexplainable Burden!

Yesterday I was watching a video of a conference that took place at NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC last year. The pastor of the church Perry Noble was speaking to church staff members about the emotions and struggles a Senior Pastor goes through.

Perry explained that there is a burden on the shoulders of a Senior Pastor that no one can explain or feel, unless you are a Senior Pastor.

I had always heard people talk about the burden of the ministry, but never really understood it (probably because I was never a Senior Pastor). However, the day I stood in obedience to God and said yes to the call to plant a new church I suddenly understood the phrase, ‘the burden of the ministry’.

This is feeling unlike any other. Maybe a parent could come close to understanding the feeling. In the space of a day something had birthed within me that I could not get out of my head. This was not me! Most of the time I could switch on and switch off. That was until this day!

For the first time in my life I began to feel totally responsible for this church. I began to feel responsible for making the right decisions and responsible for all the people we would reach, disciple and proclaim the awesome name of Jesus to. I began to feel responsible for being a great steward of money, resources and the people God would give us. I began to feel responsible for being a man who had to be 100% obedient to God, not 50% or even 80%. I began to feel responsible for things that were not even in place, or had not even happened!

However, despite all this feeling of responsibility, I know I served a God who was and is and will be bigger than anything that may come our way. When I fall short at reaching out, he will speak for me, when I fall short of being a great leader, he will raise me up. When I fall short of being a great steward of resources he gives me wisdom and faith. When I fall short of making the best decision I know he will guide me along the right path.

I realize that I may have the burden, but I serve a God who took on the ultimate burden. That was the burden of the sins of humanity. He carried my sin and your sin. If the lover of my soul can carry my sin to the point of sacrificing his life so that I could live, then I can carry the burden of a church that God has destined to reach men and women with his love and mercy!