Preaching is Like Having a Baby

In case you haven’t noticed lately–no one’s life is a bowl of cherries. Life only looks easy when you see other people doing it. A friend of mine once said; “Being a pastor is a wonderful gig–if you can get it.” That’s true. It is a wonderful calling and I love it. But it’s not a bowl of cherries.

I have a theory that no one really has an easy job. The only easy job is the one you see someone else doing and you don’t know the labor involved. When you approach a text of Scripture to teach it, it is just hard, hard work. Paul spoke of laboring in the Word. (1 Tim. 5:17) It is labor. It’s hard mental work. It’s hard spiritual work. It’s wonderful work, but hard work that takes a lot of time if you are going to do it right. The time I spend in this work is my expression of love to the Chief Shepherd and to His flock… you. (He told Peter, “If you love me…feed my flock…”).

Sometimes writing a message feels like having a baby. When you conceive of the idea it is delightful. As the message grows, it’s a little uncomfortable at times. A little heart-burn, you kind waddle around with it and you twist and turn as the idea grows in you. Then there is that time of transition… it’s painful and hard and you feel like you are going to die. Like a woman in labor (Paul actually used this simile) you have to pass through the jaws of death to bring forth life.

Every once in a while you hear about a lady who has a baby without considerable pain… say while she’s doing the dishes. Sometimes a message comes easily like that. It’s as if you just tap a passage with the tools of meditation and it bursts into sparkling diamonds! That happened this week as I prepared my message for Sunday morning. I love it when that happens. Sunday morning I will share those gems from the Evangel Pulpit. Join us if you can.