“If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed!”
Romans 8:33-34 (CEV)
You encounter many expectations as a pastor—from yourself, from your congregation, and even the unspoken expectations of the ministry culture surrounding you.
You may feel like you’re failing those expectations on many levels. But those feelings don’t need to define you.
The truth is, God accepts you just as you are, and he loves you unconditionally. That truth should change everything about how you do ministry.
Shame is one of the biggest burdens pastors carry. Many pastors carry shame about mistakes they’ve made in the past. Others feel like no matter how much they pour into ministry, it’s never enough.
But no matter how you feel, the truth is that you are enough to God!
The Bible says, “By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God” (Romans 5:1 CEV).
You may have spent your entire ministry up until this day trying to gain the approval of others. It has influenced how you preach, how you care for people, and how you lead.
But when you understand that God loves you unconditionally, you realize this: You don’t need anyone else’s approval except for God’s.
When you know that God accepts you and your ministry, you can shake off the guilt and self doubt. Then you can take a deep breath and rest in this truth: “There is no condemnation now for those who live in union with Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1 GNT).
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