Daily Devotional

I was delighted when my new husband felt called by God to become a pastor. My husband and I had no idea what was ahead. Both of us were late converts. As we stepped into the role as leaders we were woefully unprepared. As a new pastor’s wife, I was ignorant and naïve. No other pastor’s wife helped me navigate through my unexplained role. I had to figure it out on my own. Thankfully, this was God’s assignment and He provided the experiences needed to grow me up quickly.

As the ministry years ticked by I learned the basics—often times the hard way. Being a leader opened my eyes to the great need for leaders’ wives to mentor other leaders’ wives. This began my life-long ministry to pastors’ wives and leaders’ wives locally and around the world through my added role as a JARON missionary. I named this branch of JARON “Side by Side” ministries.

Through this ministry I have offered a listening ear, counsel and encouragement to local pastors’ wives, university professors’ wives, para-church organization leaders, missionaries, even a member of the UK parliament. Ministry to women in leadership throughout twenty different countries, has led me to the conclusion that their needs are often neglected—hidden. They are expected to be without struggle and they must hide it well in order to protect their reputation. All too often they have no one who is safe to confide in. It is no wonder many are friendless, lonely, and can even become angry and bitter.

God inspired me to give to these women what I did not have as a young, inexperienced pastor’s wife: mentoring, counseling, encouragement and even a much-needed hug. To motivate leaders to open up to me, I had to learn to be transparent about my own past struggles as a pastor’s wife. Under God’s tutelage I relied on the experiences, struggles and even failures in my life as a leader to help these women. Often times when I share with leader’s wives, their eyes light up— “Finally, someone who gets it!”

God has lavished me with wonderful people who have blessed my life with friendship, joy and love. Many of them are pastor’s wives and some are not. I am so grateful to God for giving everything I need to do the work of the ministry, in spite of my inadequacies. Yes, the moment I realized I would be a pastor’s wife, I had no idea that one day God would use me to bring comfort and encouragement to some amazing women in leadership.  Praise the Lord. His way is always the best!

Personal Reflection

1. Trust God to reveal to you the purpose for your life. Pray about it and be ready to be surprised!
2. Ask God to turn your inadequacies into opportunities to show God’s power in your life.
3. Pray for your leaders and their wives. Seek ways to show them you appreciate their hard work. Don’t be too hard on them if they don’t do ministry the way you wish.

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