Embrace the Hardship

I didn't get discouraged very often as a church planter, but I did at least a few times. On one particular occasion, I visited a pastor friend of mine. My goal was to talk him into taking over for me. I wanted a break from the relentless pressures of church planting. I wanted somebody else to take a turn. I was feeling the reality of what it’s like to plant a church. As Ed Stetzer observes, it’s a long, hard slog.

My friend heard me out. He listened carefully. He understood where I was coming from. And then he responded with these words: “You knew it would be hard. It is hard. Now get back to work.” I couldn't help but laugh, but it was the kick in the pants that I needed.

To be sure, church planting is hard. Ministry is hard. If you don't believe that, read any of the pastoral epistles. Spend some time in 2 Timothy and meditate on some of the relational pain that Paul experienced. Meditate on 2 Timothy 2:1-7 and think about the call to embrace the suffering of a soldier, athlete, and farmer. Take Paul’s advice in 2 Timothy 2:7 and don’t just rush through these verses; really think about these things.

Spend some time in 2 Corinthians, one of the most profound books on Christian ministry. Meditate on Paul’s sufferings (2 Corinthians 11:23-29) as well as his own infirmity (2 Corinthians 12). Consider the tense relationship that arose between certain members of the Corinthian church and Paul, its founder. Think about Paul’s plea to them in 2 Corinthians 6:12-13 (CSB): “We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. I speak as to my children; as a proper response, open your heart to us.”

The reality is that all ministry has its challenges. In fact, all life has its challenges. That was really no surprise at all. What I needed to hear was that hard is normal and that it shouldn't dissuade me from the work that God had called me to do.

I took my friend's advice. I got back to work. It was hard, but I kept at it, believing that it was worth it even when it was hard.

I relate this story to another church planter friend. This week, he's feeling the same thing that I am. It's not catch-all advice; sometimes it's so hard that somebody should consider quitting. Most of the time, what we need to hear is that hard is normal. That we knew it would be this way.

If you’re in a hard ministry, and you’re feeling a bit tired, that’s completely normal. Suffering is part of the job. You knew that going in.

So just get back to work. Keep at it, even when it's hard, because everything important, everything that's worth it, comes at a cost. Keep paying the cost. Keep discharging your ministry.

Embrace the pain, and get back to work.