“Brilliant sermon – thank you”. “I really appreciate your ministry”. “You are so good at pastoral care”.
Let’s be honest, those phrases don’t happen every day, but it is a joy when they appear. Amid the heavy workloads, spinning plates, regular discouragements, and deep awareness of our own limitations, most of us in ministry (paid or unpaid) appreciate a bit of praise. A modern-day Barnabas can make a real difference to our day. They can spur us on. Give us courage to persevere.
But there can be snares in encouragement. This beautiful “dew of blessing” can be twisted into something ugly in our wayward hearts. For some of us, the tendency can be to recoil, to feel awkward about the kindness others want to shower upon us as if their words are somehow misplaced. “Imposter syndrome” can raise its head as present praise mingles with past pain, and we can feel even more at sea than before the encouragement was received.
