Surrounded by Suffering

 I love God's calling on my life to be a pastor. The role of pastor is varied. I love the study of scripture. I often times cannot choose whether I enjoy the study more or the delivery of the message. Both thrill my soul. I also enjoy leading. To prayerfully seek God's vision for the future and rally the flock to follow God's guidance thrills me. I enjoy both reading and writing. I find equal satisfaction in each. I also enjoy sharing the good news with people who do not know Jesus. Discipling people is another passionate pleasure. 

Serving as a shepherd has always been important to me. Many pastors are exceptional preachers but poor pastors. Shepherding the flock is a priority. That includes personal visits, hospital visits, words of encouragement, funerals, weddings, listening, and counseling. You cannot take that role seriously without being surrounded by people who suffer. 

In recent days, I have prayed for someone who lost their job, ministered to one who fell and broke a bone, visited and prayed for one who suffered a stroke, and listened to and prayed for families who are attacked by enemy forces. There are those who suffer through dysfunctional families. Others face financial hardships. Some battle medical issues that cannot be diagnosed or clearly resolved. Some still grieve the loss of loved ones. Others face insurmountable mountains. Many must maneuver through mental health issues. The pains endured by the flock are intense. Somedays it seems the only news I get is bad news. 

It comes with the territory. All of the ministry does not happen on the stage. Most of the ministry does not happen under the spotlight. The suffering many times do so secretly in the shadows. Some of my most effective ministry takes place in the secrecy of the prayer closet interceding for people. 

Jesus was surrounded by suffering people when He walked the dusty paths of this planet. He slowly strolled through the crowds looking for divine appointments with lepers, blinded people, the lame, those diseased, the demon possessed, and those struggling in sin. He made time to help such people. He tenderly touched them, attentively listened, and affectionately spoke words of comfort and love. We live in world filled with suffering people. We are the mouth, hands, feet, and heart of Jesus to those struggling around us. 

For many years I have taken both comfort and challenge from [Matt 9:35-36]. Jesus saw the people as sheep without a shepherd. They were weary and worn out. He did not just see the suffering. He saw the solution to their suffering. They needed a Savior. He became their shepherd. 

Jesus has been a faithful shepherd to many of us. He has guided us to safer pastures. He keeps watch over us. He nurtures us when we are wounded. He protects us from the evil one. He loves us. He truly is our great Shepherd. He knows us by name. He speaks to us, and we know His voice. [John 10:27] He does not cast us aside in our sufferings. He does not abandon us for the healthier sheep. He is both Savior and Shepherd for suffering sheep. Nobody loves like Jesus. Nobody care about people who are suffering like Jesus. May we take comfort in those truths.