Most teenagers experienced a learning deficit during the COVID lockdown of 2020. Many educators believe they will never overcome that deficit. Similarly, could teenagers experience a spiritual deficit when their churches go for many months with no student pastor?
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“Time,” William Penn reminded us, “is what we want most, but what we use worst.” Maybe that adage is nowhere more true than in our prayer lives.
I’m just opening my heart to my readers. I’ve been burdened recently about identifying, confessing, and overcoming things in my life that I sometimes elevate to the level of idolatry – meaning, I sometimes let these things distract from my time with the Lord, dominate my thinking, or rob me of my sleep. Here are some of those things I allow to grip my heart too often:
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More Americans are choosing to be alone.
For those who serve in ministry, the daily responsibilities of church can be demanding, but do pastors really have a million things to do? Although pastoral obligations are many, a million things to do is quite an exaggeration. As the pressure of ministry and family life increases weekly, the temptation is to squander the time God has given you.
What’s your burnout story? Perhaps COVID-19 is part of your story. Maybe your burnout story involves being overworked, cutting a vacation short due to an emergency or navigating a family crisis. Burnout can cause a loss of zeal for ministry and result in pastors simply going through the motions of ministry. Burnout can even affect personal, spiritual disciplines.
