Holding On

We can be thankful that God provides direction for our lives and the strength to carry out what He has called - you might have an expiration date, a term, in which to complete a mission.  Or, it could be a call with an indefinite end.  And, it may be clear that the time has come to stop.  We can depend on the Lord to empower us until that time comes.  The Bible says in 1st Thessalonians 5:
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

New statistics from the Barna research organization reveal an encouraging trend with regard to pastors and their longevity in ministry.   In late 2021, according to Barna's website at the time: "With pastors’ well-being on the line, and many on the brink of burnout, 38 percent indicate they have considered quitting full-time ministry within the past year. This percentage is up 9 full points (from 29%) since Barna asked church leaders this same question at the beginning of 2021."  It noted "October 2021 data show that many pastors are not faring well in multiple categories of well-being, including spiritual, physical, emotional, vocational and financial."

Of course, this was during the COVID pandemic, but Barna's David Kinnaman related that warning signs were being seen even before that. And, according to a new article from Barna, the percentage of pastors considering leaving the ministry vaulted to just over 40% in 2022.  Now, in 2025, there are more encouraging statistics.  The article states:

According to Barna’s latest findings, 24 percent of U.S. senior Protestant pastors say they have seriously considered leaving full-time ministry within the past year—a decline from the peak levels recorded during the height of the pandemic era. While still a substantial share of leaders, the decrease signals a meaningful shift after several years marked by intense vocational strain.

It goes on to say: "The drop to 24 percent does not indicate that pastors are suddenly thriving or that the challenges of ministry have disappeared. Rather, it suggests that some of the acute pressure of the crisis years may be easing."  The Barna summary adds: "This distinction matters. The data points to stabilization, not full recovery. Fewer pastors appear to be in immediate vocational crisis, even as many continue to carry fatigue, grief and uncertainty about the future of ministry."  There are reports that pastors are "recalibrating expectations," and according to its findings in the report, The Relationships of Today’s Pastors, "pastors who experience stronger relational support are significantly less likely to consider leaving ministry."

It appears that pastors are finding comfort in combating lofty expectations and in community encouragement.  No doubt, it has been a difficult season for those in ministry, those in ministry leadership, and so many in the body of Christ.  But, we know that we serve a faithful God who provides the spiritual resources to sustain all of us.

Time and again, we can remind ourselves of God's faithfulness.  Those reminders can come in many forms.  We can think about how we have seen God move in our lives.  And, we can press in to those whom God has placed in our lives to encourage us, to cheer us on, sort of speak, in our walk with the Lord.  And, day by day, as we commune with our Savior and spend time with Jesus, the Word who became flesh, we can be refreshed by the teachings of Scripture, which help us to reinforce our awareness of the presence of God.