Walking The Grace Line

Walking the Grace Line!

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 ESV
Burnout!

In all of the years I have had the opportunity to talk with pastors the most common challenge pastors face is burnout. There is an amazing amount of stress that pastors face daily. Pastors are God's ambassadors in the church to represent the most powerful ministry ever and this ministry is the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Pastors burnout to the point that they begin doubting the calling of God upon their lives and ministries. What a terrible feeling and awful disappointment this can be.

What is Burnout?

Burnout simply defined is thoroughly spent to the point of total collapse. I have seen pastors in this condition and it is a worrisome sight. In tears pastors have shared their concern that they have misjudged their call. The stress of ministry has altered their ability to reason out what God has chosen for them to do. The health and vitality of pastors is in jeopardy. Many are choosing not to enter the sacrificial work of the ministry because of the overwhelming odds that are presented in working and serving people. Jesus has not given us the spirit of fear. He has given the spirit of love and soundness of heart to do the work of the ministry that you are called to do. He is faithful to meet you in ministry all of the time. When you feel sick inside, in body and mind over your failure to keep up in the work it is time to step back and ask yourself, Am I walking the grace line?

Walking the Grace Line!

What is the outline of your ministry? Are you compromising on the most essential of attributes and allowing Satan to intrude and remove your passion for Jesus? Has your life light diminished to the point that those who love you most are in a constant state of anxiety when they observe your pain, burden and diminished essence of life? You are not walking the grace line if your ministry is:

• Success driven and not grace directed
• Not identifying in sufferings of Christ and focusing on the sufferings of ministry
• Consumed by the burdens rather than lifting the burdens to Jesus
• Noise driven rather than solitude focused
• Consumed by the adrenalin rush of ministry rather than on the calm still voice of God
• When pride has consumed and humility escapes you
• When forgiveness and reconciliation are put on the back burner of ministry focus
• When your health, family and loved ones keep a distance as they observe your grouchy spirit
• When you give every last ounce of energy and nothing seems to work
• When there is nothing left to give and the dark cloud rests heavy
• When you doubt your calling and want to throw in the towel

The work of Christ suffers the most with a mission statement like the one we see above. Those we love the most are driven from us as they observe our grouchy sour view and the passions of life being sucked out of us. What's left? What can fill me, renew me and keep me constant in all seasons of life and ministry? What do I need?

You need to walk the grace line and the next segment will outline what that looks like!