When I first met my now husband over a decade ago, the idea of becoming a Pastor’s wife was not even a figment of my imagination. For one, I did not grow up in Church, and had only recently met Christ a few years earlier. I was a young, bright-eyed Christian, with a world in front of me. I was immersed in my professional career, living far from home, and enjoying my new Christian life focused on Christ.
Relatively soon into our dating life, my then boyfriend / now husband shared God’s calling on his life. He was convinced that it was God’s will for him to become a Pastor one day. I honestly did not believe him – even while he worked hard to finish his MDiv classes, constantly talked about theology, or the latest sermon that he had listened to. Sure…maybe one day…but not really…I thought…
Fast forward a decade later and I have officially held the title of Pastor’s wife for a few years now. I have also supported my husband as he served as a Youth Pastor, Worship Leader, Seminary Student, and most recently a Senior Pastor. The Lord’s calling has taken us across the world and our country, as we honor Christ’s call on my husband’s ministry.
As a Pastor’s wife, the thought “if only had I known” has crossed my mind more times than I care to admit. Ministry life is full of blessings, heartache, excitement, mundane, joy, and fear. Those of us in ministry, as well as our congregants, tend to focus on the specifics of a Sunday morning. Yet, we forget that God’s grace also touches our lives through the ordinary moments outside of the church doors – when we are with our families, at work, while parenting our children or at the grocery store.
Grace Between Sundays is a place where I hope to share some of my experiences as a Pastor’s wife – the blessings, challenges, and lessons learned. My prayer is that you are encouraged by the Word of God and learn to trust His calling on your own life. As James reminds us,
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4, ESV
May the Lord bless you and keep you, wherever you are.
In Christ,