bibleglassess I have been in pastoral ministry for about 30 years, and the last 24 of those years I have served as a pastor of Bethel Chapel Church here in Juniata. Pastoring is often stressful and has many, many challenges–but I wouldn’t want to do anything else.

I decided to use this article as an opportunity to share a few personal thoughts with you. I am going to answer a question, quite frankly, that I have never been asked. I think, however, that you may find my answers interesting and helpful.

If I could go back 30 years to when I first started to serve as a pastor, and if I could take my present knowledge and experience with me, what would I do differently? That’s a big question. I hesitate to answer it because I still have much to learn, and I undoubtedly made many mistakes that I have mercifully forgotten.

In spite of that, I want to share how I would answer that hypothetical question.

If I could go back and start all over in the ministry, I would listen more. I don’t just mean I would be quieter and let other people talk, but that I would focus more on asking good questions. This applies to counseling as well as to sharing the good news of Christ’s amazing work. When hurting people are willing to talk, I am learning to ask a lot more probing questions. This  supplies me with clearer information that helps me to guide them to God’s solutions in the Bible. It also shows that I really do care about them personally.

Some of the questions I have learned to ask are: “What is your biggest fear right now?” “What were you thinking when that heartbreaking situation happened?” “On a scale of 1 to 10 (if 10 is great and 1 is terrible) how do you feel you have done handling the disappointments you are experiencing now?” If the number is high, I’ll ask, “What is helping you handle this so well?” If the number is low, I’ll ask, “What would do you need to get that number higher?” I have been amazed at what people’s answers teach me about what is in their heart.

A careful reading of the accounts of Christ’s life in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John reveals that Jesus was a master at asking questions. We have an example of that when someone came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16) Jesus came back with “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good….” (Matthew 19:17) That is just one of many examples.

The apostle James puts it very bluntly: “… be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” (James 1:19). Too many times I have forgotten Solomon’s words in Proverbs 18:2: “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.”

If I could go back 30 years to when I first started to serve as a pastor, and if I could take my present knowledge and experience with me, what would I do differently? I would worry less about the future of the church where God has called me to serve. God has taught me that He loves the church I pastor far more than I do. Jesus Himself said, “… I will build MY church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18).

It goes without saying that if I could go back 30 years to when I first started to serve as a pastor, I would pray more. I’m not just talking about longer devotional times. The Lord has been teaching me to direct more and more of my secret thoughts to God all day long. For example, instead of thinking, “What should I do about _____________?” More often than not, I now say, “Lord I need you to show me what I should do about _________?” In other words, I am learning the beauty of talking to the Lord about the details of my everyday life. Solomon put this way: “In all your ways acknowledge Him….” (Proverbs 3:6)

I am also learning to rest more and more in God’s sovereign, eternal plan, and I am learning that His plan is always ultimately good. No matter how dark the future looks at the moment, everything is going to be OK because I have accepted Christ’s full payment for my sin and I have surrendered my heart to Him. Not only am I eternally forgiven, but Jesus has also adopted me as one of His children! “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons

[children] of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba! [Daddy] Father!’ ” (Romans 8:14–15).

I can’t go back and do anything over again. None of us will ever be able to do that–which is why our choices today are so important. If you don’t know Christ, I trust He will use my articles to call you to come to Him. Don’t put it off. “While it is said, “Today if you hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts . . .” (Hebrews 3:15).

Listening more, worrying less, praying to God about everything, and trusting Him more–those are all ways that He is helping me to be more relaxed and less stressed. King David summed it up the best when he said,  “My soul waits in silence for God only; From Him is my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be greatly shaken…. My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, My stronghold; I shall not be shaken. On God my salvation and my glory rest; The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us” (Psalm 62:1–2, 5-8).