8 Uplifting Prayers for the Discouraged Pastor
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Over the years, I have had the unique perspective of having close relationships with a few pastors. While we most often hear about the pastors who have committed some kind of moral failure, or made some outrageous statement, that is not the case with most pastors.
The overwhelming majority of pastors don’t lead mega-churches, live in multi-million-dollar mansions, fly in private jets, or drive fancy luxury cars. Most are humble people committed to living out the calling God has given them. They lead small congregations, can be bi-vocational, and honestly severely underpaid for the amount of time and sacrifice the work of the ministry requires. That includes not just the time you see them in church on Sunday morning, but the many hours of tireless work that often goes unnoticed, unacknowledged, and unpaid.
They don’t do this looking for fanfare, fame, or glory, but to complete the work God has called them to. Because pastors are human, when you add up the total amount of sacrifice and toil it takes to do ministry the right way, many are prone to discouragement. So, as you continue reading this, recognize your pastor might be one of those discouraged pastors. Though they may never utter the words publicly, they need a word of encouragement and prayer from you to lift them up and help them along the way.
Here then are eight prayers for the discouraged pastor.
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1. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Burned Out
Lord,
For the pastor who is experiencing burnout today, thank you for their commitment to the work of the ministry. However, remind them this work was never designed to be done in their own strength. As you established from the beginning, rest is necessary to maintain our bodies, to refresh our minds, and to renew our spirits. We pray they would take intentional moments away from the work of the ministry, just as Jesus did, and they would enjoy the renewing nature of your presence to find rest.
Let them know they don’t have to be everywhere and be everything because they can’t be. Let them find peace in the truth that you don’t expect them to be either. Father, as they seek these moments, I pray you would renew their passion for you and give them greater resolve and strength to continue the work you have called them to.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint”
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2. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Lonely
Lord,
Sometimes the journey of ministry is lonely. Pastors can turn to you in prayer, but often they feel like they can’t talk to anyone else because who can they trust with their situation? Will someone else even understand their most intimate vulnerabilities? For these pastors, remind them to keep coming to you, but please also bring people into their lives whom they can confide in and walk through this unique journey of service and leadership with. If they don’t know these people currently, then bring these people into their lives.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”
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3. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Overwhelmed by Stress
Lord,
The weight of the ministry can sometimes be overwhelming and stressful. Father, you know what it feels like to carry the challenges and problems of others, and often pastors do, too. For that pastor who is carrying too much, give them the wisdom to hand that off to you. Help them realize they can’t carry every burden, but you can. In their moments of stress, help them find rest for their soul in you.
God, help them make this an ongoing lifestyle change so they can take on your yoke, which is easy and your burden which is light.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’” (Matthew 11:28-29).
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4. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Discouraged because of Political Divisions in Their Church
Lord,
We live in a divided world, and sadly, those divisions have crept into the church. Some pastors are now feeling and seeing the weight of this among their congregations, and it is tearing churches apart. For these pastors, I pray you would give them wisdom to know how to manage these divisions. Help them lead people back to the truth of your word and not feel they must bend towards one party or the other. Most importantly, help them to point people back to you.
Lord, give them the foresight to know they may lose some members because of this, but give them the grace to stand despite this. Last, please don’t allow the pressure of worldly thinking and influence to creep into their hearts. Remind them that the job is to preach the kingdom of God and help them stand firm in doing that.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:1-5).
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5. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Discouraged Because the Members Critical
Lord,
Help the pastor whose members criticize everything and make them feel they cannot do anything right. Remind them their job is not to please their members, but to shepherd and disciple them. For these pastors who are pleasing you, let that be the focus of their ministry. Also, encourage them to know that if they have done what you have asked, then that is a job well done.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me” (John 16:1-3).
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6. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Discouraged Because the Job Affects His Family Life
Lord,
Ministry comes with great demands, and sometimes they take away from time with family. I pray you would help pastors to prioritize their time and realize they are called to pastor their family before they are called to pastor a church. Help them set boundaries and not feel guilty for doing it. Lord, prepare them for the reality that some may not like the fact that the pastor is not always available for them, but don’t let that distract them. Remind them Jesus turned down ministry opportunities to spend time with you. Help them not to neglect their family because of the next ministry responsibility or opportunity.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken”(Psalm 16:5-8).
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7. A Prayer for the Pastor Whose Church Is Steadily Declining
Lord,
Remind the pastor that you never called anyone to build a big church. You called them to preach the gospel and make disciples. If people are leaving the church, give them wisdom and insight into why. While it is okay to be creative in how we reach people, don’t let them compromise the gospel to do it. Give this pastor comfort and let them know you don’t judge them by how big the church grows, but by how faithful they are to the work you have called them to.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
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8. A Prayer for the Pastor Who Is Ready to Quit
Lord,
For the pastor who is ready to quit, remind them of why you called them into ministry. Father, also help them explore if you are leading them in another direction away from pastoral ministry or if their desire to quit is because they are fed up. If it’s the latter, then, as you encouraged Elijah after his showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, do the same thing for this pastor. Refresh their spirit, their mind, their heart, their joy, and send people to lift their arms as they move forward in what you have called them to do.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).
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