I’m Humbled and Thankful
Last week at the pastor’s Sharpening Week I was at, the common questions are things like, “How are you? How’s your family? How’s the church?” By God’s grace, I was so thankful that I could say that God is blessing our church in a wonderful way. I love Calvary Baptist Church. I love every person dearly. I love that the whole spirit of the church is genuinely sweet and surrendered to the Lord. I love that there’s a hunger for God’s Word. I love that souls are being saved.
I see the warts. Perhaps more than anyone.
But so does Jesus, and if HE loves His bride, I do too. I love our church, and I am humbled by God’s grace to allow us to be here.
I know we have problems. I wish I could fix them all, but I know that I’m working on the problems he’s showing me, and I trust that He’s revealing some to you, as well.
I talked to a new pastor this week who was not raised in a ministry home. He was a crazy teenager who everyone looked at like, “Whoa! He’s a wild kid!” He went to law school and then grad school and became a lawyer when God got a hold of his heart. He surrendered to use his law degree for ministry and started practicing law with the Christian Law Association (CLA), whom we have supported for years. Then, he felt called to church ministry, worked for his pastor in Indiana, and then became pastor of a church in Houston.
He said, “In the Army, I started tracking my blood pressure. I’ve had HIGH STRESS jobs all my life. In the army, I’m getting screamed at. Practicing law, I felt the pressure from my clients. On a church staff, I felt the pressure from my pastor. But then I became a pastor.”
I expected him to say, “This is the HARDEST job I’ve ever had!”
But he said, “Since I’ve been tracking my blood pressure, this is the most stress-free I’ve ever been.”
I said, “REALLY? I would have expected the opposite. Why is that?”
He said, “Well, because I just have to be right with the Holy Spirit. As long as I’m following Him and trying to lead His church like He wants, I can be confident that whatever else happens is in his control.”
I thought that was so helpful. That’s not at all dismissive of the responsibilities, but it’s about putting the burden where it belongs: on Jesus (1 Pet. 5:7). His burden is light. (Mat. 11:30).
I’m so grateful for YOUR grace when I fail. I sense the responsibility and weight of pastoring heavier every year I go along. But also, I have found a greater sense of dependence on God through it all, and although the burden feels like it has grown, it has correspondingly grown lighter, as well.
God is so good. I love you, church. Let’s keep growing together.
—Pastor Ryan