From the Desk of Pastor Matt

I was reading the verse of the day from a website I use for writing sermons. I didn’t grab onto the actual verse of the day. However, I kept reading 2 Corinthians 11. Paul uses this section of writing to talk about the things he could boast about if he chose to do so (shipwrecks, beatings, etc.).

In verse 28, Paul says, “And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches.” If I remember correctly, this was the last difficult situation Paul mentioned enduring. Of all the hardships he went through, I can’t help but wonder if this wasn’t the most frustrating one.

I sometimes don’t get Paul. I think he was a complicated guy to a degree. However, I understand what he said in verse 28. It seems that church life was just as stressful and worrisome then as it can be now. He was constantly anxious over troubles from inside and outside the church. He worried about internal feuds, theological differences, and the lure of other beliefs outside of Christ. Additionally, it is speculated that Paul maintained other employment to keep himself afloat financially (Acts 18:1–3). 

This pressure to keep the church running smoothly is common (not only to me, but to all church leaders). Every day, when I leave the church, I don’t leave the cares I have about ministry here at FCC. Instead, I drag them around with me like old luggage. I know I have the choice to drop those things when I leave the door. However, like Paul, I just care a lot about the church. So, I worry, maybe too much. I often wake up at 4 AM and immediately think about something here.

With the transitions our church is going through, it is tempting to amp my worry game up a notch or two. However, I know that does no one any good. Jesus explicitly talked about worrying. He said that the birds of the air and flowers of the field don’t worry, yet they are beautiful. He was right.

So, I have no choice but to trust God. I truly believe that things will work out just fine with enough work, time, and help from God. I hope you find the same thing to be true for you.

Peace,

Pastor Matt