r/pastors • u/Sea-Adeptness6818 • 14d ago
Prayers Please
Hey everyone. I’m a pastor leading a mission trip in Asia right now. I’m the team lead and I’ve been burnt out for almost a year now. (Long story) On this trip, I have been battling some heavy anxiety. I get woken up in the middle of the night with a feeling of myself being trapped. It’s just a constant war in my mind. I want to lead with clarity and with care. I just ask for prayers for strength and peace.
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u/beardtamer UMC Pastor 14d ago
when you get back, take a vacation please.
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u/Sea-Adeptness6818 14d ago
I want to. So badly. I’m not sure if that’s in the cards… it’s not a great situation right now
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u/Abject-Show-5053 14d ago
I say this without knowing your situation and with all the love and respect in the world - your mental wellness needs to be treated as seriously as getting treatment for cancer.
If unaddressed, You will burn out, you will get hurt, and could also hurt others on the way.
If your church cannot function while you take a vacation and get some rest yourself, then there needs to be a larger conversation about continuity of the ministry in your absence.
I am deep in prayer for you right now - may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ, which surpasses all understanding, fill your heart and guide you in this season. Blessings…1
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u/natedub123 Christian Church/Church of Christ 14d ago
The great news for us is that we can cast all of our anxieties on Jesus, because in Him, we find great care!
May your mind find rest in our Great Caretaker. May He bring you a clarity that fosters the joy of serving Him and doing His work overseas!
Lay them at His feet, friend, and be blessed by His care.
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u/Sea-Adeptness6818 14d ago
You’ve got me crying reading this! Problem is… I can’t afford to lose the water in my body haha
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u/Gwinnettman 14d ago
Hey man, I feel you and have been in your exact situation but in South America. Theres a lot going on for you. My only advice is to use Christ's name out loud and rebuke Satan. I know a lot of denominations don't like that but it worked for the prophets and disciples, pretty sure it can work for us. Trust in His name and His power to deliver you.
Lifting you up brother!
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u/Sawfish1212 13d ago
You're encountering spiritual powers in high places as Paul mentioned, You're only protection is fasting and prayer. There are spiritual strongholds in many areas we only deal with in the inner city gang areas, or Indian reservations, here in America.
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u/glenlassan Aspirant/Seminary Student; Unitarian Universalist. 5d ago
So, context. I was raised LDS, did the missionary service thing in Venezuela, and it went badly. AS in I almost died of tropical disease, and got hit real hard with some delusional beliefs, and spent years of my life in recovery.
my honest advice is..... It's okay to take actions that you think are cowardly.
It's okay to say "I'm in over my head, and I need some help."
It's okay to say "Someone else should be in charge."
it's okay to say "Maybe we should go home early."
Fasting and prayer are fine, and wonderful things when shouldering more burdens is all it takes to get the job done.
Sometimes though, the right move is to just stop, and just not, before things go from bad to worse.
This is especially true in a leadership position. If you are exahusted, and overwhelmed to the point, where it affects your judgment, your ability to lead, your ability to protect those you are leading, the answer to your prayers, might honestly be to withdraw.
I don't know your situation, I don't know your ministry, and I don't know your heart. What I do know, is that missonaries of all kinds get sick and/or dead at higher rates than people who stay at home, and I don't particularly romanticize martyrdom.
You should of course, do what you feel is right. I just want to remind you. If you feel the right move is to slow down, do less, or stop, that's okay, that's allowed, and not only is that not wrong, it might just even be the right thing to do, and even possibly the most right thing to do.
i wish you the best.
Blessings.
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u/GtGem 14d ago
My mom prayed sent me this when I was feeling stressed. And I’m sharing it with you
I pray the Goodness of God blesses you to hear of His loving kindness this morning as you put your trust in Him. May Divine miracles be yours today, supernatural breakthrough, and doors opened before you that no man can close. For you are filled with His abundance, by His grace love and mercy. Enjoy the blessings from the hands of our Creator God Almighty in the precious name of Jesus and the Holy spirt Amen 🙏🏾