Maybe it’s just a case of post-Christmas syndrome. Then again, maybe it’s the disappointment of falling short of your goals last year. A nettlesome conflict. Or is it the result of pouring your energy into others without stopping to refuel?
Whatever the reason, spiritual leaders sometimes find their spirits sagging.
You asked for practical ways to regain and maintain spiritual well-being, and we heard you. In this issue of Leadership, you’ll find help and hope to slay the beasts of discouragement and doubt.
Finding grace amid pressure
Craig Barnes, pastor of National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., talks honestly about how, when we’re pressured to achieve, we can begin to receive from God. The conversation begins on page 20.
Restoring your soul
Wondering where to begin the work of restoration? Leadership adviser Fred Smith gives advice on assessing our spiritual condition (p. 40); then Gordon MacDonald tells how to begin a “Monday Morning Restoration” (p. 28).
Fighting discontent
Discontent gnaws at the pastor’s soul like a rat on a chunk of cheddar. Here’s help. Craig Brian Larson gives insight into “Living Abundantly When Resources are Scarce” (p. 50), while Jack Hayford (on page 39) looks at the temptation to base our significance on attendance.
Knowing how much to let on
Do you allow people to see you walking with a limp? James Emery White and William Willimon debate the answer to that question in, “How ‘Authentic’ Should I Be?” (p. 58).
Recovering from rejection
Have you been jilted by a search committee when you knew you were the right candidate for the job? We tracked down a pastor who ‘fessed up to the pain of being “First Runner-Up” (p. 47).
Gaining hope and perseverance
Disillusioned with your church? Read Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s wisdom about this spiritual ailment on page 37. Then check out Pete Scazzero’s “Beating the Pastoral Blues” (p. 63), and Anthony Laird’s “What I Wish I’d Known Before I Quit” (p. 33).
You’re not alone this winter. So sit back, pour a cup of coffee, and let us sit with you and warm your soul.
—The Editors
1998 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or contact us.
