The overwhelming pains of discouragement and soulish agony often befall those who minister the word. What can be referred to as spiritual "postpartum depression" is the experience associated with conception of the life of God's word in the soul of man and then agonizingly being birthed as a message into the world of a local congregation.
I applaud J. Lee Grady for being so candid concerning his own experience that follows his ministry of the word. Especially when it has the strength of prophetic tone in the proclamation.
This extract is a great read.
rgh
"What we need in today’s pulpits is less glitz and polish and more gut-level honesty"
"Ever since God called me to preach, I’ve battled with deep insecurity about my delivery style. I can’t electrify a crowd like T.D. Jakes, pack an arena like Reinhard Bonnke or get audiences to turn sermons into trending topics on Twitter like Craig Groeschel or Steven Furtick. Those guys hit home runs when they preach. I get base hits—or strikes.
For years I felt like the reluctant Moses, who complained to God by saying, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent” (Ex. 4:10). For years the Lord kept pushing me out of my comfort zone, urging me to surrender my fears so that I would take the microphone willingly. Once He told me: “I didn’t call you to be T.D. Jakes. I called you to be you.”
On many occasions after speaking in a church or conference, I would sulk. I battled constant discouragement and wondered if my words had hit the mark. Did I preach OK? Did the message sink in? Finally I asked an older pastor if he had ever struggled with disappointment in his pulpit performance. He smiled and told me: “Son, I feel that way every Monday of my life.”
I’m learning an uncomfortable secret about preaching: Those who dare to allow God to speak through them will always squirm in holy agony. Preaching the gospel is both a glorious and a horrifying responsibility. When we speak under the anointing of the Holy Spirit and impart the very truths of Christ, we get so dangerously close to Him that our pride is challenged."
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/fire-in-my-bones/16716-the-secret-of-becoming-a-prophetic-preacher
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