By Rodetta Cook

Rodetta Cook has been a pastor’s wife for over 40 years. She and her husband, Ron, have actively served the Lord together in ministry during the entire time and are co-founders of Care for Pastors. She understands the expectations, loneliness and how hard it is to find balance in ministry as a pastor’s wife. Rodetta also leads the pastor’s wives initiative at Care for Pastors called The Confidante and ministers to hundreds of wives each week. She strives to share blogs with other pastors’ wives that will help them in their ministry walk.

Posted by Rodetta Cook

Topics: Balance · For Pastors' Wives · Spiritual Walk

A Heart of Leisure

Monday, October 16, 2017

I want to share a blog today from one of our pastors’ wives here at The Confidante, Patti Johnson and I pray what she has to share will bless you.

I recently came across a verse in the Old Testament that has greatly encouraged me. I recently taught on it for a ladies bible lesson and I continue to meditate on its truth. In times of discouragement, dismay and perplexity of the things we see around us, we need a place to listen to God and hear His direction for us.

Habakkuk 2:1 ESV

“I will take my stand at my watch post
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint.”

The three lessons I learned from this verse are the following.

“I will take my stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower.”

I must find a way to get “above the heads of the crowd” to where I can see things apart from only my perspective. Perhaps this is a physical place for you, or perhaps it is just a time that you quiet your heart and your head. But we must intentionally seek a place where God can communicate to us in the midst of life.

“And look out to see what he will say to me.”

I must allow myself to have a “heart of leisure” so that the still small voice of God can penetrate the noise of my own making. I must actively purpose to hear from God. This comes from His Word, the lyrics of a God honoring song, a time of prayer that listens more than talks.

“And what I will answer concerning my complaint.”

I must allow God’s Truth to guide me as I descend from above the crowd and courageously and confidently confront that which is troubling me.

As pastors’ wives, we often find ourselves listening to the dilemmas, complaints and struggles of those we minister to. This is when we need to ascend above the heads of the crowd and allow God to speak to us so we will have an answer when we descend and dwell amongst the crowd once more.

It is not an easy role, being the listener. It is not easy listening to people without relief. It is not easy to listen to God if our hearts are not at leisure to hear.

God has called us to unique roles as pastors wives. Let us listen. Let Him guide us.

I pray you will take to heart what Patti shared with us today and remember to have a “Heart of Leisure” especially in the midst of the busyness of ministry and life.