Silent Struggles of Ministry(Shh... we don't talk about it)

Amanda Beres March 4, 2026

• Amanda Beres is a writer and freelance editor based in Rhode Island. She has a Master's in Professional Writing and Communication and has worked with The Global Poetics Project and the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources.

“Hi, everyone! It’s Amanda, back with another video…” This is how I normally start my videos for The Standard, generally upbeat. I want to invite everyone in. The goal is to bridge gaps and cross divides. And while that’s all good, it’s a lot to do and take on. This is what I want to talk about today. Growing up in my family, a pastoral family, a family with a legacy of pastoral families, I have seen the best and worst of ministry. I have seen the best and worst of the church. But I have also experienced, and more importantly, the absolute best of a life surrendered to God! I understand the church hurt me, but also God’s peace that passes all understanding. Burnout is nothing new to me, but neither is God’s restorative rest! These are all the things we don’t talk about. There might be some people who want me to shut up and be quiet about it, too. But to act as if people in ministry (myself included) are more than human is lying. Let me break it down. 

First, I want to say, if you have ever dealt with church hurt, I want to say I am sorry. It is extremely hurtful to be hurt by someone who is meant to care for you. This could be an elder, a pastor, a sister, or a brother in Christ. In no way do I want to diminish or make light of the pain that comes with church. I am simply saying people in ministry roles also experience church hurt. 

The best way to tackle it is to take it one day at a time, but that can be easier said than done. Especially when God has given the vision for the end goal! When He has shown you the dream, but not the entire path. And here is the side of ministry we rarely talk about, the side that feels like everything is swirling around you. The side where you question if it really was God. The side that feels like everything is chaotic, when you know God for sure has it together. This is where we begin. 

I will be honest with all of you; I feel that way as I do this blog. I see the vision and want to work towards it…but where do I start? Where do I go? What do I do? There are days it feels like I can’t see the next five feet ahead of me. But you know what, I don’t have to. And neither do you. See, the Bible says this in Proverbs 3:5-6 

Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP)

Trust in and rely confidently on the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him, and He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

Catch this! God will make your paths straight. Now let me explain. If you watch my videos, you know my preferred Bible is the Amplified Version. This is not because it’s the best one overall, but because, with where I am currently, it is the best version for me. It provides all these footnotes and parentheses, so I clearly see the original Hebrew and Greek meaning of the words. For example, in the verse above, in parentheses, it says “...removing obstacles that block your way”. This takes it further than saying God will provide you with straight and smooth paths. It means that if there's something… or someone… blocking our path, He will remove it. The thing about removing something from a path is that it takes work. And here is where I say, STOP TRYING TO DO GOD’S JOB! This is especially true for those called to ministry.

But what is it to be called to ministry? Well, Matthew 22:14 says, “For many are called (invited, summoned), but few are chosen.” Okay, but what does that mean? Basically, if you’re a follower of Jesus, then you are responsible for sharing the Gospel. That doesn’t mean you shove it down everyone’s throat, but your life should reflect His love, peace, and freedom. The world is in desperate need of this. That’s the call part. Now the chosen. This is a bit different. It’s a deeper, multi-level calling. One that, to be honest, I don’t fully understand, but I am learning. All I know is this whole Christian walk can be lonely, at times. And it can be a lot at once, but you need to remember to focus on today, not tomorrow. (For those struggling with that, read Matthew 5:25-34.) For those in pastoral positions or ministry leaders, this is even more true. 

Okay, so what does this have to do with understanding God’s plan for your life? What does this have to do with following the vision God has given you? Everything! It comes back to trusting God with the plans He has for His life. See, Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”  But a friend of mine pointed out something interesting. First, I will say, this is my favorite verse. It reminds me that when things look out of place, or something feels off, it’s still all part of God’s plan. And if it’s still part of God’s plan, then it has to work out for my good and His glory. Nothing will be wasted. But here’s the thing, the plans for a hope and a future, that’s not the promise. The promise is in Jeremiah 29:12-13: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart”.  Now let’s put it all together. Remember, context is important. 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)

“For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

So let’s think about this. Jeremiah was a prophet God sent to Israel during their exile. He pleaded with the people of God to turn back to Him. He pleaded with them to trust the God who had delivered them time and time again. You would think that people who had been delivered from Egypt, witnessed the ten plagues, as well as the Ten Commandments, and every miracle God had ever performed for them would just automatically trust Him. However, this was not the case. They were actually in exile because of their lack of faith. But all they had to do was seek the Lord first. Remember Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” That’s all the people of Israel had to do! That’s all we have to do! But that is easier said than done. 

And this is where we get into the burnout side of ministry. As a pastor’s daughter, I have seen pastoral burnout. I have experienced church hurt from the members to the pastor and their family. I have seen the amount of preparation it takes to preach on Sunday mornings, but also to serve your community during the week. Trust me when I say, Sunday mornings are the least of a pastor’s job, and the smallest of what they do. There are meetings, counseling sessions, hospital visits, baptisms, funerals, weddings, and family time(if the pastor is married and has children). Somehow, through the grace and strength of God, pastors do all this. I am in no way saying pastors should be put on a pedestal. I am saying pastors are only human (just like you and me, go figure) and need grace from their congregation as well. 

I want to break this down, because this is what we often don’t see in the church. We see the pastor’s teaching, the evangelist’s ability to reach others, or how a prophet hears so clearly from the Lord. We don’t see the hours of prayer or daily struggles. We don’t see how tired the pastor is after meeting with someone at the hospital at 2:00 a.m., coming home at 5:00 a.m., then taking his daughter to school for 7:30 a.m. Now, that line may be based on my own personal experience, but it is the reality of many pastors and their families. For me personally, I am taking on the young adult ministry at my church, involved with multiple outreach ministries, while working.  All this while trying to build this blog. So a lot is going on right now. But ministry doesn’t stop… it never does. And yet, there is great joy in doing the Lord’s work. And as Nehemiah 8:10 says: “The joy of the Lord is my strength.”

Now, going back to the calling of ministry, this is especially true. Ministry, any ministry, is a hard road to walk. According to the Bible, God has set up a five-fold ministry: Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist. And then, of course, there is the Great Commission, in which Jesus commands us all to share the Gospel. And here’s the rub. If you know you are called to ministry, or business, or teaching, or medicine, or evangelism, or pastoral care, or whatever God has called you to, it can become overwhelming! Especially when it’s something big, or God has given you the vision that it will be big. But, as Habukuk reminds, everything will come in God’s perfect timing. If it seems slow in coming, it will still come and without delay. But don’t forget there is work to be done. See, Habakkuk says, write the vision down, make it plain. This means we need to plan and prepare. And when it comes to ministry, this can be a struggle. Because waiting is hard! And ministry itself is tiring. Just remember, those who are pastors, apostles, evangelists, prophets, and teachers are human. They are given these positions by God, but God is still their source, and your source. Burnout in ministry is a struggle for many called to these positions, but that is where God's strength comes in! That is where His joy reinforces us! 

• Blessings, Amanda