This Holiday, Remember: the Prince of Peace is For You Too, Pastor.
I felt horrible. It was Christmas Eve in the mid-2010s, and I was mere moments away from stepping onto the platform to lead a Christmas service.
- I was fighting a cold.
- I'd had a string of late nights with sick children.
- My wife and I were struggling financially.
There weren't many gifts under the tree. Our kids knew it was going to be a thinner year. The shame of it all sat heavy on my chest. Somehow, I was supposed to proclaim hope to the gathered congregation.
I can't wait for Christmas to be done.
I muttered the thought out loud, to myself. I felt devoid of hope, and utterly disconnected from the sacred moments I was about to speak about. Instead, I was caught up in a shame spiral:
Want more from The Lead Pastor?
Sign up for a free membership to complete reading this article:
Have an account? Log In
Josh, you're terrible with money. You're not leading well. You're not healthy. What kind of pastor can't even enjoy Christmas? Why can't you get it together?
Here's what I see now:
Looking back on that Christmas Eve, I realize the enemy was working overtime to get me to focus on anything other than Jesus. In the mess and pressure, self-condemnation spiralled, and hooked me. I was distracted from Who Jesus wanted to be for me (my Prince of Peace).
Do I still feel that same type of pressure at Christmas time? Absolutely.
Does the enemy try the same old tricks? Every time. But...
I've learned to pray through it differently.
And Jesus is faithful, always. When I feel that familiar pressure, I pray something like this:
Jesus, I'm feeling all sorts of pressure in this moment. Pressure to achieve. Pressure to prove myself. Pressure to meet people's expectations.
So, please:
- Remind me that I'm not alone out here working the fields (Matthew 28:20).
- Remind me that You're not judging or evaluating my output with a critical eye (Psalm 32:8).
- Remind me that You are with me, shoulder to shoulder...
- Remind me most of all that Your joy is the relationship You and I share.
I surrender the outcomes of this service, of this season, of this struggle. I choose to believe that my job now is simply to show up, hand-in-hand with you (2 Corinthians 12:9).
I choose to give YOU responsibility for the outcomes. I surrender my control, and choose Your peace instead (Isaiah 40:31).
Amen.
The Bethlehem story began in chaos.
An inconvenient census, a long journey, no rooms, a stable birth. And right there in the middle of it all, Jesus showed up. Not after the chaos was resolved, but in the midst of it.
The Prince of Peace is for YOU, pastor, if you'll allow Him to be that for you.
In Christ, Who is our Life,
Josh
