Surviving a Tough Sunday in Ministry
Photo by Stephen Radford on Unsplash
If you’ve been in ministry for any length of time you’ve had a tough Sunday. You can’t find that vital item for service. All your volunteers call out. You had a huge argument in the car. You have some really bad news you’re not ready to share with the church.
It’s tough to walk into the place and plaster on a smile. But sometimes you have to do it. We’re not in show business, but there are a lot of parallels. To that end, “the show must go on.”
The advice I’m sharing today is hard won and not to be followed week after week. Rather, it’s for that one-off Sunday we’ve all had. If these feelings continue for weeks or months, you need to take further steps. Talk to someone. Get help. Take a break from ministry. You can only serve out of your overflow. If life is draining you, do some self-care. Serving when you’re unhealthy can cause major problems for you and your ministry.
That said, let’s imagine it’s mere minutes before people show up. You’re alone in your room, and you’re not sure if you should continue. Here’s what you can do.
1. Pray
I know this is obvious. But, for me, these times are the hardest to pray. I have a million thoughts rushing through my mind and a ton of work to do. Taking a few minutes to talk to God is the furthest thing from my mind.
But it’s also the best thing you can do. Take a few minutes to quiet yourself and focus on your Heavenly Father. Everything is in his control. He knew you’d have days like these. He has given you the tools you need to get through.
Trust him and move forward. Your problems may not be solved, but your perspective will have changed. He is your Heavenly Father who knows how to give good gifts. Trust that he will come through.
2. Put on a smile
Like I said before, this is for that one Sunday when things are off. If this is a continual issue, you should seek help.
Everything rises and falls on leadership. If you walk into your pre-service meeting with your problems on your face, your volunteers will take their focus off God and put it on you. If it’s a close group, you can be vulnerable with them. But then you need to put that brave face on and get out there.
The people you’re leading are taking their cues from you. If you come out sad, distressed, or have no energy, they will follow suit. You may be having a bad day, but they may be too. They’ve come here for hope and are looking to get it from you.
Trust that God can use you in this dark time to bring hope to everyone. Even when Jesus was being crucified, he still brought hope to one of the thieves hanging with him. You can do the same.
3. Worship and let the Holy Spirit do the rest
There are many parallels between show business and church service. You sing in front of people. You talk in front of people. You tell jokes and stories. There are lights and microphones and a stage.
But what’s different from an actor and a pastor is that you’re not up there to entertain. You’re up there to lead people to a deeper relationship with Christ. You’re not just singing a song or just telling a story or just greeting at a door. It’s more than that. Your interaction can have an eternal impact on someone’s soul.
So, when you get up there to sing, worship with all your heart. Make the songs your prayer to God. When you get up there to preach, preach to yourself. Let the hope and grace and mercy you’re talking about apply to you too. As you greet others with a smile, let other’s smiles, hugs, and greetings warm your heart.
In college, my worship pastor would pray before we took the stage. He’d ask the Spirit to move through us. If we’re in the way, then move around us as a stream moves around a rock.
On days like these, we’re the rock. Do your best with what you have and trust God with the rest. You never know when a word, a look, or a smile may be just what someone else needs. You may never know what that means to someone else, but God does.
He’s always working, so let him work in you and through you.
4. Rest and Recharge
When service is over, take some time to rest and recharge. Even Elijah needed a nap and a snack after a particularly difficult day. You’re no different.
When you get home, thank God for getting you through it. Thank him for the life change that happened in spite of your feelings. Thank Him for giving you’re the opportunity to serve his people.
Then do what recharges you. Take a nap. Go out with friends. Eat some good food. This was just one Sunday in a slew of hundreds if not thousands. What matters the most is your relationship with God. You loved him before you took this gig. You’re going to want to love him when it’s over.
Hard days in ministry will come. Jesus promised in this world we will have trouble, but we should take heart for He has overcome the world. Sometimes, we just have to get through them and thank God that we did.
Trust that God is with you in the good days and in the bad. He knew they would happen and took them into account when he called you. A bad day doesn’t change His calling. Rest, recharge and get back out there. We need you!
