Two Decades In—and Still in Awe

When I first stepped into pastoral ministry twenty years ago, I had no idea what I was truly signing up for. I had passion. I had a calling. I had a heart to serve Jesus and love people. But I couldn’t have predicted the road ahead, the highs and lows, the heartbreaks and holy moments, the stretching, the growth, the miracles, the mundane. And yet, after two full decades, I can say with all sincerity: I still love being a pastor. In fact, I’m more amazed by it now than I was at the start.

In a world where burnout is common and many pastors are quietly stepping away, I want to offer a different testimony. Not because I’ve figured it all out or because every season has been easy, but because I’ve learned that joy, deep and lasting joy, is found not in the absence of struggle but in the faithful presence of God in the middle of it.

Joy in the Ordinary

One of the biggest surprises in pastoral ministry has been learning how sacred the ordinary is. Sure, there are the “big” moments: baptisms, weddings, breakthroughs, salvations. But most of my days aren’t filled with fireworks. They’re filled with phone calls, coffee shop conversations, praying for someone’s sick mom, writing sermons while the church copier jams, or counseling a couple who’s hanging on by a thread.

And yet—it’s in those everyday interactions that I often feel the deepest sense of purpose. It’s in the small, hidden moments where the Spirit of God does quiet, transformative work. There’s a joy in walking alongside people, not just when the spotlight is on, but in the unnoticed spaces where real life and real growth happens.

Shepherding Through the Storms

I won’t pretend pastoring is always easy. I’ve walked through some storms. I’ve buried children and sat with grieving parents. I’ve listened to heartbreaking confessions. I’ve had people I love walk away from church, from community, and sometimes even from the Lord. I’ve dealt with criticism that cut deep and seasons where I questioned whether I had what it takes.

But through every storm, God has never stopped showing up. He’s never stopped reminding me that the work is His. That my job is to shepherd: to lead, love, feed, protect, but ultimately, He is the Chief Shepherd. My joy doesn’t come from results. It comes from obedience. From knowing that I’m following Him, even when I can’t see the full picture.

The Gift of Watching Lives Change

There is nothing like watching a life transformed by the grace of Jesus. After 20 years, it still gets me. Watching a person come alive in Christ, whether it’s the teenager who decides to follow Jesus at summer camp, or the man who finally lays down his addiction, or the elderly woman who finds peace after a lifetime of striving, those moments never get old.

I’ve learned that joy in ministry doesn’t come from numbers or recognition. It comes from proximity to people’s stories. From walking with them, praying with them, weeping and celebrating and growing together. That’s the kind of joy that roots deep and holds strong even when the road gets rough.

Leading from a Place of Joy

Early in my ministry, I felt a lot of pressure to perform. To meet expectations. To be the “strong” leader. But the longer I pastor, the more I realize that people aren’t looking for perfection they’re looking for presence. They want a pastor who is real. Who walks in humility. Who leads with joy, even when life is hard.

Joy isn’t something I manufacture. It’s something I fight for. It’s something I receive from the Lord when I spend time in His presence and let Him remind me of why I said yes in the first place. When I lead from a place of joy, I don’t lead out of fear or duty I lead out of delight. Not because I have to, but because I get to.

Ministry Is a Miracle

There’s a holy mystery to pastoring. That God would entrust broken, imperfect people like me with the care of His church is something I will never get over. It’s not a job—it’s a calling. And every time I stand to preach, every time I pray with someone after service, every time I baptize someone or walk them through loss or joy I’m reminded: this is a miracle.

The fact that I’ve been doing it for twenty years is also a miracle. It’s only by His grace. I’m not the same pastor I was at 25—and thank God for that. I’ve grown, I’ve failed, I’ve repented, I’ve learned. But through it all, God has been faithful. And He’s still using me. That amazes me.

The Joy Is in the Journey

If you’re in ministry and you’re tired, I see you. If you’re wondering if it’s worth it, let me tell you it is. Not because it’s easy, but because Jesus is worth it. Every meeting, every late-night hospital visit, every message you preach that feels like it falls flat, He sees it. He honors it. And He uses it, often in ways we’ll never fully understand.

After twenty years, I’m still amazed. Still grateful. Still filled with joy, not because every season has been perfect, but because God has been present in all of them. And I’m not done yet. The joy is in the journey, and I’m still walking it, one faithful step at a time.