I encounter so many worship pastors that are in painful ministry situations. The spiritual, Give Me Jesus, has often brought comfort to my life. Today, I share with you a post by my friend and counterpart from the Kansas-Nebraska Convention, David Manner, a frequent contributor to this blog:

Worship pastors live under a tremendous pressure to perform. The demands and stresses of the position can lead to relational conflict, burnout, family crisis and even forced termination. At one time or another we have all asked if worship ministry is really worth it or if we should consider doing something…anything else.

To combat inevitable ministry stressors, our evening prayer should be that of the old spiritual, In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus. Our laments may resonate with some of those listed below but our response must always be the same…Give Me Jesus.

When I’m working too much according to my family and not enough according to my pastor…Give Me Jesus.

When we can’t sing too few or too many hymns or modern songs…Give Me Jesus.

When I wonder if my children will even like church when they are no longer required to attend…Give Me Jesus.

When no generation is really happy musically…Give Me Jesus.

When my worship leading shelf life is speeding toward its expiration date…Give Me Jesus.

When I seem to always be a step behind musically, technologically and culturally…Give Me Jesus.

When congregants target my family because they are upset with me…Give Me Jesus.

When I’m tempted to quit every Monday morning…Give Me Jesus.

When pastor/staff collaboration actually means command and control compliance…Give Me Jesus.

When it seems like I no longer have a great cloud of witness surrounding me…Give Me Jesus.

When I don’t have the resolve to take care of myself spiritually, emotionally or physically…Give Me Jesus.

When I’m always the first one to arrive and last one to leave…Give Me Jesus.

When burnout is causing me to coast…Give Me Jesus.

When the music I lead is accountable for church growth or culpable for church decline…Give Me Jesus.