Ministry Begins with Rest
By Bill Gaultiere
We’ve been providing care, counsel, and prayer to pastors, missionaries, church planters and other servants of Christ for a number of years now. One of the most important things we do is help them to rest in God.
Every missionary, church planter, pastor and ministry leader I know — starting with the one that looks back at me in the mirror! — needs more of the rest of the soul that Jesus offers us in his embrace (Matthew 11:28-30). Probably this is true for you as well.
It is so easy to be busy with God’s work of raising support, building relationships, trying to master a new language, or just learning how to survive in a very different culture that you neglect your own intimacy with Christ and miss out on the soul rest that you need! And when you are not resting in Christ, you will not be able to share his love effectively with others.
I want to share with you a meditation that will give you perspective and inspire you to learn to live in Jesus’ easy yoke so you can share it with others. It’s called “Rest” and it’s written by William C. Martin for the pastor, but it applies to all ministry leaders and Christ-followers:
Rest
If you fill your calendar with important appointments
you will have no time for God.
If you fill your spare time with essential reading
you will starve your soul.
If you fill your mind with worry
about budgets and offerings,
the pains in your chest and the ache in your shoulders
will betray you.
If you try to conform to the expectations
of those around you
you will forever be their slave.
Work a modest day
then step back and rest.
This will keep you close to God.
What Does Your Calendar Look Like?
Before God’s rest gets in our soul, it needs to be in our daily schedules too. So Martin concludes his thought on rest with this observation:
“One of the first things I look at when I begin spiritual direction with a pastor is his or her daily planner. It reveals volumes about that pastor’s spiritual condition, values, fears, and ambitions. It tells me who their bosses are, who their lover is, and how much value they place on their soul. If you’re working more than 50 hours a week, you’re not doing it for God, no matter how eloquent your rationalizations.
Take a long, prayerful, meditative look at your calendar. Who are you trying to impress? God? Give me a break. The congregation? Possibly. Yourself? Bingo!
Now cut some big chunks out of each week for family, rest, meditation, prayer, and flower sniffing. When you’ve done that we’ll talk more about the path to God.”
William C. Martin, The Art of Pastoring: Contemplative Reflections
Step into Jesus’ Easy Yoke
As the hard working church planter or missionary you are, you might feel it is wishful thinking to schedule your “rest” or prayer time with Jesus. But failure to do so can lead you to do your ministry work “without Jesus” in your own power and strength – a sure recipe for burnout. My favorite way of understanding our need to rest in God is to get into Jesus’ easy yoke. It’s about an attitude that we carry into our work and our stress. You can learn more about this in my book, Your Best Life In Jesus’ Easy Yoke: Rhythms of Grace to De-Stress and Live Empowered.
You can also Listen to my SoulTalk: Burnout is Optional. Burnout doesn’t have to be the last word! Listen in on how to identify burnout and step back into Jesus’ easy yoke. Allow Jesus to nourish your soul!
This article is submitted by David Rimoldi of Soul Shepherding. Soul Shepherding is a Missio Nexus member. Member organizations can provide content to the Missio Nexus website. See how by clicking here.
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