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Pastors often carry crushing burdens silently because they feel like they can’t show weakness.
When people ask us what the most powerful way to appreciate a pastor is, our answer is simple: pray for them.
But here’s the challenge: most pastors will never ask for that.
In fact, we live in a ministry culture that is almost allergic to vulnerability. Pastors are often the first to downplay their own needs, to brush off compliments, to say “we’re fine” when they’re not. They live in what we call a self-deprecating, handle-it culture.
We’ve had pastors tell us, “I love the content you share on social. It encourages me. But I’ll never share it.” And when we ask why, they shrug and admit, “We don’t want to draw attention to ourselves. People won’t understand.”
That’s the reality. Pastors often carry crushing burdens silently because they feel like they can’t show weakness. And that’s why it’s so critical for us, the Church, the people of God, to step in as their voice. To pray, to share encouragement, and to advocate when they can’t or won’t do it for themselves.
The Culture of Silent Struggle
If you’ve ever been close to a pastor, you know how common it is for them to downplay the weight they carry.
- They minimize their exhaustion because “others have it worse.”
- They avoid asking for help because “it might burden the church.”
- They refuse to vent because “I don’t want to sound ungrateful.”
It’s a culture of silent struggle. Pastors are trained (or pressured) to be “on” all the time, spiritual guides, counselors, leaders, encouragers. And yet that very culture leaves them isolated.
Which means someone else has to say the words they won’t:
- “Our pastors are tired.”
- “Our leaders need prayer.”
- “Our shepherds are human too.”
That someone is us.
Why Prayer Matters More Than We Realize
Encouragement is vital. Practical gifts are wonderful. But prayer? Prayer is eternal.
When you pray for your pastor, you are lifting them before the throne of God. You are interceding for their soul, their family, their mind, their marriage. You are asking God to provide what no human encouragement ever could.
Think about this: if your pastor is preaching the gospel, counseling the broken, discipling new believers, and equipping saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12), then they are in the crosshairs of spiritual warfare every single day.
Without prayer, they are vulnerable. With prayer, they are strengthened.
What Pastors Will Never Tell You
Here are some things pastors might never tell their congregations:
- “I’m lonely.”
- “I’m exhausted but don’t know how to stop.”
- “I feel like I can’t fail without letting everyone down.”
- “My marriage and kids sometimes feel neglected.”
And yet, pastors won’t stand up on a Sunday morning and announce those needs. That’s why your prayers, and your willingness to be their advocate, matter so much.
How We Can Be the Voice They Don’t Have
If pastors won’t say it, we can.
We can be the ones to:
- Speak honestly about the need for pastoral rest.
- Remind the church that leaders are human too.
- Share encouragement online and in person, even when pastors won’t.
- Build a culture where praying for pastors is as normal as praying for missionaries.
At Cedar Creek Ministries, that’s part of why we keep creating content, even when it doesn’t “go viral.” Because even if pastors won’t share it, they tell us they read it. It helps them keep going. And if the only thing we can do is put truth and encouragement into their quiet spaces, we’ll keep doing it.
The Prayer Pledge Drive Journal: A Practical Way to Begin
We know that praying consistently can feel overwhelming. That’s why we created the Prayer Pledge Drive Journal.
It’s a simple, guided tool that helps you commit to praying for your pastor every day. Inside, you’ll find:
- Daily prompts with Scriptures and prayer topics (endurance, wisdom, joy, family, purity).
- Reflection pages to record what God puts on your heart.
- Accountability through a pledge structure that keeps you faithful.
When a church takes the Prayer Pledge, something amazing happens: pastors feel carried, even if they never ask for it. They may never say “thank you,” they may never post about it, but they notice. They feel it.
And here’s the thing: anytime is a good time to pick up a Prayer Pledge Drive Journal and start. You don’t have to wait for Pastor Appreciation Month. You don’t have to wait for a crisis. Today is the right day to begin covering your pastor in prayer.
Practical Ways to Encourage Through Prayer
Praying is powerful, but sometimes it helps to pair prayer with action. Here are some simple ways to pray and encourage without forcing pastors to “say the thing” themselves:
Daily and Quiet Support
- Text your pastor, “I prayed Psalm 23 over you this morning.”
- Write a short card with a Scripture and let them know you’re interceding.
- Form a small prayer circle that commits to covering leadership weekly.
Creative Prayer Commitments
- Organize a 24-hour prayer chain for your pastor and their family.
- Use the
Prayer Pledge Drive Journal as a small group resource.
- Create a church-wide “Prayer Wall” where people sign up to cover specific days.
Advocacy in Action
- Speak up in leadership meetings about the need for sabbaticals.
- Remind others in your congregation why prayer matters.
- Share encouraging posts and resources publicly, even when pastors won’t.
Why Cedar Creek Ministries Champions Prayer
Our mission is built on three words: Rest, Restore, Revive.
- Rest: through sabbaticals and retreats.
- Restore: through biblical counseling and family support.
- Revive: through leadership development rooted in Christ.
But none of that happens without prayer. Prayer is the foundation. Prayer is the fuel. Prayer is what sustains pastors when no one else knows what they’re carrying.
That’s why the Prayer Pledge Drive Journal is more than a tool, it’s a movement. It’s our way of helping the Church step up and say what pastors won’t say for themselves: we need to cover them in prayer.
How You Can Start Today
Here’s how you can step into this calling:
- Pick up a
Prayer Pledge Drive Journal. Don’t wait for October. Anytime is the right time to start praying for your pastor.
- Commit to daily intercession. Even a few minutes of faithful prayer will make an eternal difference.
- Be the voice. Share encouragement, speak the truth, and advocate for pastors who won’t draw attention to themselves.
Final Word: If They Won’t Say It, We Can
Pastors live in a culture that often silences their needs. They won’t announce that they’re tired. They won’t confess how heavy the load is. They won’t post on social media asking for prayer.
But we can.
We can pray. We can speak. We can encourage. We can be the voice of compassion and truth when they feel they can’t.
At Cedar Creek Ministries, we’ll keep reminding the Church that pastors don’t just need encouragement once a year, they need faithful intercession every day. And we’ll keep equipping people through resources like the Prayer Pledge Drive Journal, because covering pastors in prayer is the single greatest gift we can give.
So today, don’t wait. Be the voice they don’t have. Pick up a Prayer Pledge Drive Journal, and begin the work of prayer that will strengthen your pastor, their family, and the Church itself.
