My prayer life/list is divided into three general categories: family, church family, and friends. And since I am a pastor, it should come as no surprise that on my list of friends for whom I pray there is a disproportionate number of pastors (or missionaries).

So as I prayed this morning for this man and that, it struck me how everyone of them is struggling. The pastors for whom I pray face disappointment, frustration, struggles with their marriages, with their children, with depression and with discouragement. Some are actively seeking other positions, some are doing so knowing their own situation is coming to an end. Some are walking through very dark times. And the needs do not respect the size of church, but strike all equally.

In all of this, pastors are not really unlike the general run of people. However, people can look at pastors and think that they are somehow immune from the common struggles of life. That is a lie that Satan would love us to believe to silence our prayers as he continues to pick apart the stability and peace of mind of these men.

Your prayer list may not have a dozen pastors on it, but it may have at least one. Pray for him.