ERIK RAYMOND  |  MAY 22, 2024 

My first month in full-time pastoral felt like a baptism by fire. Like the tide bringing in debris from the ocean, each Tuesday delivered a fresh batch of pastoral challenges. It was like I was standing on the shoreline looking at the mess, wondering, “Where did all of this come from?” And even more, “How is this going get cleaned up?”

This season, from nearly twenty years ago, sticks with me like a tattoo. Even though I was a young man, I remember feeling physically, emotionally, and spiritually exhausted. Adding one issue on top of another weighed me down. Looking back, this was an admittedly trying period of ministry. However, it introduced me to a reality that all pastors need to learn sooner or later: pastoral ministry is a unique burden.

It’s hard to explain it in a way that hits home to someone who’s not a pastor. But an illustration may be helpful. It’s become popular to exercise with a weighted vest. Some wear a vest to walk, run, and do push-ups or pull-ups. The added weight increases the stress on the body and provides a more challenging workout. After a workout and removing the vest, you feel it. You feel lighter and stronger. But what if you didn’t take off the vest? What if you occasionally added more weight to it? You’d notice that you’re tired. You’d want a break. You’d feel winded.

This is what pastoral ministry is like. It’s like living with a weighted vest on. All the time. And every now and then, usually on Sundays, someone slips an extra weight in there.

Why do pastors feel this burden?

There are several reasons, but three come immediately to mind.

First, pastors feel the weight of their calling. Pastors serve God. The Lord has an eye upon our work. We never escape his gaze. And we labor as those who will give an account (James 3:1). Paul leans into this to put some weight into Timothy’s vest in multiple places (1 Timothy 5:21, 6:13; 2 Timothy 4:1ff). And we aim to be pleasing to him (2 Corinthians 5:9–10). While all people should feel the burden to honor the Lord in their work (Colossians 3:23–24), Pastors labor under the sense of a divine calling to serve Christ and the church. We feel the burden of rightly handling his Word (2 Timothy 2:15) and shepherding his people (Hebrews 13:17).

They tell you if you have trouble sleeping to count sheep. Pastors can’t sleep because they are counting the sheep.

Second, pastors feel the burden of their sheep. Paul writes of “the daily burdens for all the churches” (2 Corinthians 11:28). Paul cared deeply for the churches and those who were part of each of these local congregations. Like the Apostle, pastors saddle the load for wandering and sinning sheep. We’ve pleaded through tears with church members who refuse to lay down their sin and serve Christ. We’ve watched those we’ve seen come to Christ and baptized, walk away from Christ. We watch the calloused hearts manifest with intensity to worldliness and lethargy towards the Word. They tell you if you have trouble sleeping to count sheep. Pastors are up at night because they’re counting the sheep. 

Third, pastors feel the weight of their own sin. While up to our elbows dealing with others’ issues, we are also mindful of our own sins. By praying through, reflecting upon, and laboring for others, we become increasingly aware of our own sin. Seeing the destruction that sin brings makes us see and hate it in our own lives. Watching Satan leg-sweep an unsuspecting man will make you move a little slower. It drives pastors to watch their lives and doctrine closely (1 Timothy 4:16). It makes us cry out, with Paul, ‘”Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?’ (Romans 7:24) Seeing the ravages of sin makes us hate it all the more in our own lives. We can’t escape this burden.

Just as with personal fitness, there are benefits to wearing the weighted vest of pastoral ministry.

Pastors should be strengthened as followers of Christ. Walking through life with the weighted vest and taking all of the reps of prayer, time in the Word, reflection on truth, and counseling should strengthen us. 

Pastors should be driven to pray in confident humility. Working out with the vest makes us sense our weaknesses. So, too, pastors should be perceptive to their weaknesses and be driven to pray for strength from the Lord Jesus. We have a faithful and sympathetic high priest to help us and dispense grace and mercy in our time of need (Hebrews 4:12).

We may be weary in the work (it’s hard) but may we never grow weary of the work (it’s worth it!).

Pastors should be refreshed by the privilege of ministry. I hope you don’t misunderstand me as someone who is complaining. By stating the reality of a burden, I am not complaining about it. May it never be! The work is hard, but it’s a privilege! Pastors have (in my opinion) the greatest job in the world. We can give ourselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer to serve Christ and his church. God has granted us time to study and serve the Word. What a privilege to serve the One who gave his life serving us! What is better than contemplating and applying the glorious excellencies of Christ? We may be weary in the work (it’s hard) but may we never grow weary of the work (it’s worth it!).

Christian brothers and sisters, pray for your pastors and attempt to encourage them. They are not perfect, but they are burdened. May the Lord direct you to put a sanctified pep in their step.

To my pastor friends, wear the weighted vest with faithfulness, dignity, and humility. A day is coming when you will take off the vest and reflect on the privilege you’ve had to serve such a faithful master.