By Kent Fillinger
The Barna 2024 State of Pastors Summit reported that one-third of pastors had given real, serious consideration to quitting full-time ministry in the last year. The top two reasons cited were “the immense stress of the job” (56%) and “feeling lonely and isolated” (43%).
The State of Pastors Summit also noted that almost three-fourths of pastors (73%) said they frequently or sometimes felt emotionally or mentally exhausted in the last three months. Sadly, 18 percent of pastors said they had experienced thoughts of suicide or self-harm within the last year.
On a positive note, over half of the pastors surveyed (51%) said they feel more confident about their calling than when they first entered pastoral ministry. Fifty-nine percent said they felt very satisfied with their vocation as a pastor and almost half (47%) said they felt very satisfied with the ministry at their current church. Finally, 57 percent said they felt “well-supported” during the past three months, up from 49 percent a year earlier.
In my research to identify the most stressful jobs, I found the O*Net Online database which lists 879 different occupations and rates each one based on its stress tolerance level. Stress tolerance is defined as a job that requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
They ranked film and video editors first with a stress tolerance of 99. The job of clergy scored 84 on their stress tolerance meter and the least stressful job listed was that of couriers or messengers with a score of 37.
Stress in the First-Century Church
These statistics prompted me to do a quick survey of the book of Acts to identify some of the stressors the disciples and first-century church leaders experienced as they planted churches and shared the gospel.
Some of the stressful situations they encountered were quite serious and severe, such as being arrested and jailed for preaching. Several were beaten and flogged. Stephen and James were killed. Six times it was noted that faithful disciples were chased by murderous, angry mobs.
The earliest preachers in Acts also faced stressors that are still common in ministry today such as threats from church leaders, jealousy, doctrinal disagreements, rumors, lies, staff conflicts, opposition, insults, and racial tension.
Solutions for Stress
The American Institute of Stress offers a variety of assessments, articles, and apps on its website to help people combat workplace stress. But during my study of stressors in the book of Acts, I stumbled upon a verse that hadn’t previously caught my eye. And I thought it was applicable to help church leaders manage the stressful situations they encounter today.
Following Paul’s conversion, Barnabas brought him to the apostles. They accepted Paul and welcomed him as a preacher of the gospel instead of as a persecutor.
Following this, Acts 9:31 (New Living Translation) says, “The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.”
Living in the Fear of the Lord
The phrase “fear of the Lord” only appears one other time in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians 5:11 when Paul writes, “It is because we know this solemn fear of the Lord that we work so hard to persuade others (to accept the gospel).” It was his fear of God that motivated Paul to preach and reach others for Christ. And Paul sought to persuade others to join him in fearing the Lord so that they too would escape his wrath.
Scott Hafemann wrote, “Fear is the flipside of faith and the gracious gift of God to his people. Only those who know Christ fear losing such a relationship, and it is this fear (the negative motivation), together with the glory of God itself (the positive motivation) that keeps the believer persevering in pleasing God.”
As we seek to have a heart for the lost and broken around us and as we seek to love and reach others with the gospel, we need to remember that the fear of the Lord refers to a deep reverence and awe for God, acknowledging his authority over all things. This fear should lead to a life of obedience and submission to his will. “The fear of the Lord” is living in holy reverence, childlike dependency, and genuine joy in the greatness and goodness of God.
May pastors today experience the same solemn fear and walk in the fear of the Lord as they preach with passion, conviction, and boldness like the apostle Paul.
Walking in the Comfort of the Holy Spirit
We walk in the comfort of the Holy Spirit when we recognize that God has given us a helper to be always at our side in life and in ministry. We are never alone. In Ephesians 3:16, Paul prays that God will empower us with inner strength through his Spirit. Romans 8:26 tells us that the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.
The presence of the Holy Spirit enabled the early Christians to endure persecution and continue to spread the gospel. The presence of the Holy Spirit within us assures us of God’s presence and power within us and the ongoing blessing of the Spirit’s encouragement to sustain us even when we face stress in ministry.
May pastors today be reminded of the words of David from Psalm 94:19, “When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
The Church Grew in Strength and Numbers
The final theme of Acts 9:31 is the growth of the church. Despite the opposition and persecution, the church continued to grow and expand. This growth was a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers, as well as their boldness in sharing the message of salvation with others. The growth of the church demonstrates the power of God to overcome obstacles and build his kingdom, even in the face of stress and adversity.
Walking is an ongoing action that denotes progress and growth. The fear of the Lord leads to a life of holiness and obedience, while the comfort of the Holy Spirit brings peace and strength amid trials. These two spiritual qualities enable us to be all God wants us to be as we seek to live out Jesus’ mission.
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