Written by George Robertson, senior pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tennessee
Each year, I gather with two groups of senior pastors. We each share heartaches, hallelujahs, and hopes from the past year. No matter how many heartaches are shared, we always conclude that the hallelujahs of gospel ministry far outweigh them. This is true despite recent trials.
Over the past five years, the landscape of pastoral ministry has shifted under our feet. We’ve navigated global crises, unprecedented scrutiny, and the sting of a culture that increasingly disdains the pastoral office. In the face of such heartaches, it’s easy to wonder if our call is still worth the cost. In 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we must see ministry as God does—neither thinking too little of the office nor thinking too much of ourselves.
Being a pastor isn’t merely a profession or a noble career choice; it’s a divine mission with eternal, life-and-death consequences. When we stand in the pulpit, we’re not delivering motivational speeches. We’re ambassadors of Christ, spreading the fragrance of the knowledge of him in every place.
While the world measures success by budgets and programs, the true “letter of recommendation” is written by the Holy Spirit on the hearts of the people we serve. We carry their burdens like fathers do, spending sleepless nights in prayer, because our ministry is one of deep, personal love.
Are we sufficient for these things? Not in ourselves. Our competence comes from the Spirit in us, who renews us in our weaknesses day by day. Despite the criticisms and challenges, the hallelujahs of gospel ministry still far outweigh the heartaches. Serving as a pastor means serving as a pen in the hand of the Spirit. It remains one of the highest privileges available to man.
—George
