They carry the weight that’s left behind from counseling meetings. They shoulder the burden of dozens of sheep at once. They tend to know the worst and most heartbreaking news found within the families of the church. They know about the failing marriages, miscarriages, wayward children, abusive spouses, private addictions, personal struggles and demonic attacks levied against their people. Their phones and brains stay full. They are constantly praying, planning, training and executing. They cast vision and weigh every option and angle and impact. They daily hope the plans God has shown them are received and engaged by their people. They hope their faith is strong enough and the narrative is clear enough. They desire unity and trust from the people they serve. They don’t want trouble. They just want to follow God rather than men. They preach and counsel what God tells them, hoping it lands well. They don’t want to run people off. Not at all. They spend hours in prayer and Bible study. They dig and strain and labor in doctrine, trying to feed their own souls, while making sure they have a meal to feed their sheep. They drive to church hoping their people will be there to worship with them. Yes, it’s discouraging to *all pastors when people miss for unnecessary reasons. They juggle to stay balanced as ministry men and family men. They’re on call on holidays and off days. They have kids whose lives are flying by and wives they’ve been called to prioritize over their vocation. They deal with comparisons to the former regime and out-of-left-field assumptions and insinuations from brothers across town and behind screens. Most aren’t in it for the fame, notoriety or money. They sincerely want people to be saved and discipled and to have stored up crowns in Heaven to cast at Jesus’ feet. They are human and need grace. They need and crave the word they preach. They need mercy, understanding and a space to continue their own sanctification. They need vacations and free time. They need loyalty and love. They need you. Pray for your pastors! There is far more behind the pulpit than you could ever imagine!