7. Somebody related to your church may take his or her own life.
I’m not sure I have ever felt so inept as when all my ministry efforts didn’t stop this kind of tragedy.
8. Some people won’t know how to relate to you.
No matter how hard you try to prove you’re a regular person, some people will be uncomfortable around their spiritual leader.
9. Some days will be really lonely.
When you’re quietly bearing the burdens of others, the weight can be heavy and the hours long.
10. Somebody may criticize your family.
Even the people we most love aren’t immune from the attacks of church members—some who genuinely mean well, but some who are just plain mean.
11. Some of your friends may betray you.
It happened to Jesus, and it can happen to us, too.
With all these pains in mind, though, guess what? I would still do it all over again. The joys of pastoring are so powerful that I’ll take the risk of these pains any day.
This article on hurting pastors originally appeared here.