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You have weaknesses. We all do. They may be physical, emotional, intellectual, or spiritual—but they’re real. And more often than not, we try to hide them. We deny them, excuse them, defend them, or resent them.But God has a different plan.He wants to use your weaknesses for his glory. A weakness is any limitation you didn’t choose and can’t easily change. And while you might be tempted to think, “God could never use me,” the truth is, he delights in putting his power in ordinary people—fragile, flawed, and easily broken.That means you’re exactly the kind of leader God can use.Sometimes God doesn’t just use your weaknesses. He actually creates them—or allows them—so that you’ll rely on him. Sometimes he even turns your greatest strengths into weaknesses.That’s what happened to Jacob.Jacob was a schemer. He manipulated and deceived to get what he wanted. He spent much of his life running—from his brother, from consequences, and even from God. But one night, Jacob wrestled with God and said, “I won’t let go until you bless me.” God agreed—but then touched Jacob’s hip and dislocated it.It seems like an odd way to bless someone—by wounding them. But it was exactly what Jacob needed.God touched Jacob’s strength and turned it into a weakness. From that day forward, Jacob walked with a limp. He couldn’t run anymore. He couldn’t rely on himself anymore. He had to lean on God—literally and spiritually.That’s where transformation began.Pastor, if you want God to bless you and use you, you must be willing to walk with a limp the rest of your life. Because God uses weak people.When you stop hiding your weakness and instead allow God to work through it, you become a living testimony of grace. The world doesn’t need perfect pastors—it needs pastors who are surrendered. That’s where God’s power shows up.Paul experienced this firsthand. He had a weakness that he begged God to remove. But God didn’t take it away. Instead, he reminded Paul of a deeper truth:"But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).That same grace is available to you today. Lean into it. Let your limp lead you closer to God’s strength.

“I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling through the darkness, for living light will flood your path.” John 8:12 (TLB)Every pastor walks through dark days.There are dark days of disappointment—when your sermon doesn’t seem to land, your people seem disconnected, or your leadership efforts fall flat.There are dark days of discouragement—when criticism cuts deep, when relationships in the church feel strained, when people you've invested in walk away.There are even dark days of doubt—when you wonder if you're really making a difference, or if you have the strength to keep going.In moments like these, you don’t need a new strategy. You don’t need to chase the next ministry trend or polish your systems.What you need is light. Not just any light—the Light of the World.Too often, when ministry feels unclear or heavy, we instinctively reach for "flashlights" of our own making.We try to power through with experience, education, energy, or effort. We tweak the schedule, attend a conference, overhaul the programming, or imagine that a fresh start somewhere else will fix the fog.But these are dim lights, and they burn out quickly.What you need isn’t a flashlight—it’s a floodlight.Jesus doesn’t offer a flicker of inspiration. He is the blazing, unwavering Light who sees the path before you even when you can’t. He doesn't promise to remove every valley, but he promises you’ll never walk through one alone.Pastor, if today feels dark—if Monday feels heavier than usual—remember this:Your calling didn’t begin with your qualifications, and it won’t be sustained by your talent. It rests fully on the light of Christ.So flip the switch of faith. With Christ’s light, you may not see five miles down the road, but God will give you just enough light for the next step.Trust him again today.

“You are blessed whenever you follow my example.” John 13:17 (GW)Pastor, you are following someone. Every day, someone’s model is shaping your thoughts, your leadership, and your heart. The question is—whose example are you following?If you’re not intentional, the expectations of others, the pressures of ministry, or even cultural ideals about success can start to set your course. But only one example is perfect. Only one person truly knows what it’s like to lead, to suffer, to love, to serve, and to endure. That person is Jesus.Jesus never called people to follow a method, a ministry strategy, or a movement. He called people to follow him. And that’s still his call to you.Jesus is your perfect model for ministry. He led with both courage and compassion. He loved boldly. He spoke truth tenderly. He wept over cities. He washed feet. He carried a cross. Jesus wasn’t weak—he was strong in all the ways that matter most. He showed us how to lead with grace, humility, and faithfulness under pressure.And he says to you, “You are blessed whenever you follow my example” (John 13:17 GW).No seminar or book can beat the example of Jesus. You have the greatest ministry mentor in history at your disposal. Choose to learn from him this week.

“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.” Psalm 119:71–72 (NLT)Ministry is filled with problem-solving opportunities. And each problem you face as a pastor will either defeat you or develop you, depending on how you respond.When pastors encounter challenges—an unexpected resignation, a strained marriage in the congregation, a sermon that didn’t connect, or just the weight of heavy responsibilities—they often react with frustration or discouragement. That’s understandable. But when you pause to ask, “How might God be using this?” you open the door for growth, not just in yourself but in your church.Here are five ways God often uses problems in your ministry:1. God uses problems to DIRECT you.Sometimes God uses ministry disruptions to redirect your path. Maybe he’s showing you a different way to lead, preach, or shepherd. As Proverbs 20:30 says, “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways” (GNT). Don’t waste the detour—God might be leading you to something better aligned with your calling.2. God uses problems to INSPECT you.Leadership always reveals what's inside. And ministry problems will test your motivations, your humility, and your trust in God. As James 1:2-3 says, “When you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience” (NCV). What is this challenge revealing about your faith?3. God uses problems to CORRECT you.Even seasoned pastors need course corrections. Sometimes God allows difficulty to realign our hearts with his Word. That’s what the psalmist meant: “My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees” (Psalm 119:71 NLT). Has God been using hardship to refocus your heart on his voice?4. God uses problems to PROTECT you.You may not see it now, but some problems are God’s way of shielding you. Maybe that job you didn’t get, the growth that didn’t happen, or the retreat that fell through was actually God’s grace. Like Joseph, you’ll eventually be able to say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20 NIV).5. God uses problems to PERFECT you.You are being shaped for eternity. As Paul writes, “We know that [problems] help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character” (Romans 5:3-4 NLT). Every challenge is refining your soul to make you more like Christ. God is not just preparing sermons through you—he’s preparing you through the fire.You’re going to face difficulties in ministry—maybe even today. But when you do, remember you have a choice. You can let them defeat you. Or you can choose to let God direct, inspect, correct, protect, and perfect you through them.And when you do, you're not just growing as a leader—you're becoming more like Jesus.