“Men of God are just human.” This statement is declared by a myriad of Christians, from the laypeople to the pastor himself. It is a sad fact that though we may believe the essence of this statement, we can easily fail to apply it when circumstances demand it.

Despite the unrealistic expectations of some, pastors and leaders are humans with human emotions who experience human grief, troubles, and heartaches. They are imperfect, and they will stumble. They grow weary in the fight and often struggle to continue when life’s burdens seem unbearable. Pastors and leaders will experience health problems themselves or those in the lives of their families. Even in troubled times, they are expected to continue being all the things to all their people. It is no wonder that some studies suggest that 1,500 pastors leave the ministry every month. Today, the average length of a pastorate is just four committed years. Here are some statistics based on recent studies:

• 75% of pastors report severe stress causing anguish, worry, bewilderment, anger, depression, fear, and alienation.
• 90% of pastors report working more than 50 hours a week, yet feel as if their work is never done and expectations never end.
• 94% of pastors feel constant pressure to have a “perfect” family.
• 25% of pastors do not know where to go or where to turn when they have a family issue or personal conflict.
• 25% of pastor’s wives see their husband’s work schedule as a source of conflict and detriment to their family.
• 25% of pastors who left the ministry before age 65 left because of church conflicts.

It is imperative that we move proactively to support, encourage, and uplift our men of God. We must allow them to heal, rest, and recover when needed; and we must assist in letting them do what it takes to continue in the ministry. Imagine if Aaron and Hur had waited for someone else to hold up Moses’ weary arms. What if they had said, “It’s not really our job,” or “I didn’t know he was THAT tired?” Moses would have failed; the battle would have been lost, and perhaps it would have all been blamed on Moses. The willingness of Aaron and Hur to hold up the man of God and to keep him in the fight was a monumental part of the eventual victory.

Elijah was discouraged and coming unraveled after the miracle of Mount Carmel. God had to make him stop and rest to get him back on the right path. Without being made to recover and rest, perhaps Elijah would have never gone on to mentor Elisha. Most likely, he would have made bad decisions in his weariness and would have failed in the ministry.

Man of God, you are not alone. Weariness in the battle and the cares of this world will do their best to knock you down, but they do not have to knock you out of the fight. Perhaps you just need time of support to regain your strength. Maybe you need to stop and rest as Elijah did. Is not the longevity of the ministry and a life of serving God worth you taking the time to heal?

When your arms grow weary in the battle, it is imperative to allow for external support so that you may continue for the Lord. Pastors and leaders often struggle to come to this conclusion, whether it be the pride of admitting their humanity and its accompanying struggles or the fear of trusting others to help. Regardless of the reasons, rest and recovery will certainly create the best-case scenario to keep going in the fight.

The Amanda Rach allows for a place for men of God to rest and recover like Elijah so that they may go on to serve God. The Ranch provides support in the battle as did Aaron and Hur so that God’s servants can continue. We understand that men of God are just human; therefore, we are determined to provide a place to strengthen and support them, ensuring their futures in the ministry!