A Letter From a Pastor’s Wife

It’s me again, Lord, the woman standing in the shadows of the man leading your people. I know I am part of his ministry, but lately I feel like the last part. He sits in the light – while I stand in the shadows. Others make demands on his time – I’m expected to wait. He proclaims your message – I’m still listening for your voice. I am the pastor’s wife.

I really shouldn’t mind such inconveniences, I guess. Especially, since he was a gift from you. You gave him to me like you gave Samuel to Hannah. Then in return, I gave him back to you. Yet, I get so lonely as I share him with others and watch them exploit his courtesy, consuming his time – my time. So help me Lord, to accept that his work is a full-time service, and that my sacrifice pleases you.

No one else sees him as you and I do – discouraged, disappointed, and sometimes even wanting to give up. When others accuse him of not caring, we see him on his knees pouring out tears over his people. They see a strong unmovable leader. We know he’s just a little boy at heart, with dreams and imaginations – all for your work. Please Lord, give me strength to somehow support him when he falls short of his goals and becomes disheartened. I need the right words to say when others fail and he blames himself. Keep me from becoming bitter at those who turn on him after he has given himself unselfishly.

Show me how I can support him as I listen to his dreams and watch him reach for your will. Allow his dreams to become my dreams. He believes you want to do miracles, and I want to believe it, too. I want to help him to look into the future and not be discouraged by the present.

One more thing, Lord, help me never forget that I am part of his calling. Your anointing is on the both of us – not on him alone. Remind me that when you placed him into the ministry you gave him a gift – a helpmate – the pastor’s wife. Amen

This article may not be written by an Apostolic author, but it contains many excellent principles and concepts that can be adapted to most churches. As the old saying goes, “Eat the meat. Throw away the bones.”