Pastoral care has immeasurable privileges, joys and blessings. The Minister of the Gospel has the privilege of acting as vice-pastor of the Supreme Shepherd and taking care of the Church for which Christ died (cf. 1P 5. 1-4 and Acts 20. 28). There is also the grace to be a collaborator of the joy of many who, affected by the Gospel, reconcile with God and experience the Restoration of lives, emotions and relationships (cf. 1Co 1:24). The Lord also crowns the blessings of those who perform this service faithfully, not by promoting the Word, but by being true ambassadors of Christ. Therefore, there are many reasons to rejoice in pastoral ministry.
But ministry is also urgent and demanding, and in the yearning to serve God in the work of the church, the pastor may lose strength. The mere fact that he devotes so much time and attention to those who need spiritual, emotional and relationship care is sometimes enough to consume his energy and strip him of his vigour. In other words, the joy and joy that result from the restoration of lives, in general, are preceded by the wear and tear resulting from care and investment in people to restore. The Minister also often has to deal with emergency situations for his flock. Hospital visits, funerals, conflict mediation, helping families in crisis and more are not scheduled and do not follow the pastor’s daily schedule. When any of these things happen, in addition to dealing with it, the pastor must still fulfill other previously acquired commitments. All of this contributes to the exhaustion of the worker.
- It is also necessary for the pastor to balance ministerial activities and take care of the family.
- The pastor’s family is continuously monitored by church members.
- Some see it as a model and others as an area in the life of the minister who needs to be corrected.
- Ends up being tigoous for the worker.
- In addition.
- It generally avoids complaining about the church in the family context so that it does not influence its members to nurture a negative view of the church.
- By absorbing these tensions generated by herd defects.
- The shepherd burns emotionally and spiritually.
- This is not to mention that.
- In general.
- The salary you receive means that the family budget always has to be “on edge” and what escapes this pattern creates anxiety and distress.
In addition to what has been said so far, although the pastor apparently enjoys free time to organize his weekly schedule, the truth is that he still lacks time: the preparation of the sermon, the Sunday school lesson, the weekly Bible study, so the appointments and tips to be made, the execution of traditional church programs, etc. , take time , the demands and expectations of the church are not always realistic about it and the pastor ends up working much more than the normal working day. in our country Time for a dedicated minister is extremely valuable.
Finally, the ministry is repeatedly marked by loneliness and anguish at not being able to share pains and anxieties with others. Discussing some of these issues often involved exposing people and revealing the secrets of others. As a result, the minister suffers in silence, praying to God, but not always understood by the people around him, including his own family. As mentioned above, in an attempt to protect his family, especially his wife, the pastor absorbs his pain and this dynamic makes him sick.
In this context of privilege and deprivation, how can the pastor maintain his mental health?Unfortunately, there’s nothing simple. However, I try to present some practical suggestions in the following lines: first, it is important for the pastor to be guided by certain principles, and then remember that obeying certain firm steps can help you in this process.
To avoid attrition, and with it, the murmurs and root of bitterness that make the heart so sick, the pastor should be guided by certain principles that help him maintain balance, principles that should govern his mind and calm. Each of these principles can be cultivated throughout the ministerial career and motivates the pastor to find a new spirit in his affairs.
Many pastors end up being dominated by activism because they think they are glorifying God, some even need to be busy to feel valued and, as a result, commitments on the agenda are becoming “crazy. “However, the most important thing for the Lord is what He does in us, that is, whether the fruit of the Spirit has been a reality in our lives and if we are truly in the image of Christ, what we do is important, but the fundamental thing is what God does in us.
The minister is responsible for doing what the Lord called him to do, dedicating himself primarily to prayer and Scripture by caring for the flock (see Acts 6. 4, 1Co 4. 2, and 2 Tim 4. 1-5). In this company, success is measured by loyalty and not by business statistics; It is also important for the minister to remember that his work is not limited to his actions, but understands the Lord’s actions through him, for example, the conversion of lives. , the transformation of relationships, the conviction of sins and so many other things are only possible by the operation of God’s grace in someone’s shepherd. A successful ministry depends entirely on the Lord.
There are activities for which the minister is responsible, but there are also elements that are the responsibility of the sheep of the flock, for example, the minister is responsible for faithfully exposing the scriptures to his congregation, but it is the responsibility of each member. to be present and be careful to understand what is taught. The Lord Jesus taught that even those who confront others are not responsible for their response to this confrontation (cf. Mt 18, 15-17). Many pastors demand results that do not fall within their sphere of responsibility.
The pastor, who preaches continuously but barely sits down to listen to and receive the ministry of the Word from others, often feels arid and empty. Submitting to the public display of the Word is a way of grazing and healing. others must also be helped. Whoever advises needs to be warned. All of this is part of god’s designed process for the growth and spiritual maturation of the believer and with the pastor is no different. So try to find someone with whom you can “open your heart,” someone who can pray for you and for whom you can account for your pains, anxieties, and sins that steal so much your joy.
Certainly, every minister knows and accepts these principles in theory, but ministerial practice may be different and the pastor ends up wearing down unnecessarily in many areas, so, as in other areas of life, in these cases we all need to be remembered. .
When thinking about his personal ministry, every wise minister must set limits. These milestones can help you better perform ministry activities, but they can also contribute to your family relationships and personal accomplishments. While these limitations are personal in nature, here are some. suggestions on this.
After reading this essay, Pastor, you may identify other principles and steps to follow in your ministry to maintain your mental health, I hope this reflection has been helpful in awakening you to this company. May the Lord continue to take care of us all.