In my Bible reading, I came across something I found interesting. In I Chronicles 9, the chapter details the return of Israel's children from their exile in Babylon, beginning with the Levites and temple workers. Among the long list of names, families, and clans, we find verse 13:

“ And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God. ”

On the surface, the verse doesn't seem all that exciting, but if we dig a little deeper, we'll discover something intriguing. The Hebrew phrase translated here as "very able men" is translated elsewhere in the Bible as "mighty men of valor."

“And their brethren, mighty men of valour, an hundred twenty and eight: and their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men. ”

Isn't that fascinating? We're not talking about military men like Gideon or Joshua. The men in these passages were not big, bad warriors, known for their bravery and heroic deeds. They were priests and temple workers—simple men with simple jobs in the eyes of most. But according to God, they were mighty men of valor. Why? Because doing the work of the Lord is not for the faint of heart! It requires those who are willing to take a stand and do what's right no matter what.  

I can't think of any period in my lifetime where pastors have had a more difficult job than now. On the whole, they work tirelessly to build up the church, having to compete with entertainment and distractions that threaten to pull the people away from the house of God. And now—on top of the challenges they already faced—they have to figure out how to continue amid a pandemic.  

Do we have church or cancel?  

Should we do live stream or not? Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom?  

Should we do parking lot services?  

What do we do if someone in the church gets sick?  

Should we have Sunday school classes? Nursery? Weekly visitation?  

Do we schedule our yearly missions conference or wait until next year?  

How long will it take before all of the congregation returns? Will they ever return?  

Will the church survive this crisis?

These questions and many more, I'm sure, are weighing on every pastor's heart. Many are being ridiculed and persecuted for the decisions they've made. Most of them are confused, weary, and discouraged. This is unfamiliar territory, and while they may not have the weight of the world on their shoulders, they certainly have the weight of the church on them.

Friends, it's easy for us to forget how difficult the job of the pastor is. It's more than just getting up and preaching on Sundays and Wednesdays. It's about leading, guiding, and protecting their flock. It takes great courage and fortitude. Even God Himself recognized that leading the church requires mighty men of valor because doing God's work is a spiritual battle. It's a daily war against principalities and powers. And we ought to praise the Lord for those who are willing to take on that fight day after day.

Not only that, but we also ought to stand up beside them. We should pray for their strength and guidance. We should encourage them in every way we can, reminding them that they are not in the battle alone. Yes, friends, even mighty men of valor grow weary from time to time.  

When was the last time you encouraged your pastor? I urge you, don't wait another day. Give him a call. Send him an email. Let him know that you're behind him 100% and that you're praying on his behalf. It's time we stand up for those who are standing up for us!

And for all you pastors out there, thank you. Thank you for fighting this spiritual fight and remaining faithful despite the many obstacles thrown in your path. Our prayers are with you!