John Stott once said that the occupational hazard of Christian ministry is discouragement. He was right. But that word is far too neat a container for what pastors actually carry. It doesn't account for the sleepless 2 a.m. hours wondering if you misread your calling. It doesn't capture the gut-punch of a church split, or an Elders meeting that ends in frustration and gives way to betrayal. It says nothing about a man watching his wife weep quietly at home when everything cha

I write this not to convince you of my goodness, my skill or my righteousness but to warn you of the same dangers that lurk around the corne