When you read Deuteronomy 33:27 — “The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms” — you find a solid foundation for security. Our identity in him takes away the shame that society, with its competitive ethos, inflicts upon us. For “those who look to him [daily] are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed” (Psalm 34:5).

Statistics of servants of God who do not end well can be very discouraging. Dr. J. Robert Clinton conducted a now-famous study of how leaders in Scripture finished their tenures. Of those about whom he was able to get sufficient data, Clinton determined that about one in three finished well. Commenting on the contemporary scene, he suggested that the ratio is probably even worse. But if what the Bible says about God’s keeping power is true (Philippians 1:6; 2 Timothy 1:12), it does not have to be so.

I want to focus on two issues that hinder people from finishing well. The first is disappointment over what they have experienced. When talking to Christian leaders, I have often found that, once you get below the surface, there is deep-seated anger or discontentment over disappointing experiences they have had. The second issue is insecurity — a feeling of inadequacy that triggers harmful attitudes, actions, and lifestyles. Both of these are heavy loads to carry, and they easily trigger negative feelings about ministry that could overwhelm us and destroy the joy of service.

1. Learn to Lament

One key to health in ministry is learning to lament. Romans 8:20–39 gives some important direction for experiencing deep fulfillment while facing disappointment. Paul says that the creation — including believers “who have the firstfruits of the Spirit” — has been “subjected to futility [or frustration]” (Romans 8:20, 23). In other words, frustration is an inevitable reality in the life of service. Things will go wrong. People will hurt us. Our faithful service will be rejected. We will experience physical or mental infirmities that drag us down. And we will even appear to be failures on earth despite a life of costly obedience. If we don’t come to grips with the fact that frustration is part and parcel of our present experience, disappointment can overwhelm us.

Paul himself experienced this frustration throughout his time in ministry. As he languished in prison, many labeled him a failure and even sought to bring him lower (Philippians 1:15–18). Many were ashamed of him and refused to stand by him (2 Timothy 4:16). But writing from prison, he said, “I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Contentment — especially in the midst of frustration — is a virtue to learn.

And what exactly did Paul learn? Well, among other lessons, he learned to lament or groan with the rest of creation (Romans 8:22–23). Though this groaning anticipates coming glory, the cry of pain is so severe that it is compared to the pains of childbirth. The lament is the most repeated example of this Spirit-led groaning in the Bible. Over a third of the Psalms are classified as laments, and many of them use raw language to describe the pain the psalmist experienced.

The Bible gives us permission to express our pain in the face of frustration. We can lament directly to God and to believers whom we trust. In doing so, we arrest the process whereby pain deteriorates into bitterness. And by honestly expressing our pain, we also open ourselves to God’s comfort. If you want to weather the inevitable disappointments of ministry, learn how to express your pain in groaning.

2. Let Sovereignty Unseat Insecurity

A second key to thriving in ministry is a high vision of the sovereignty of God.

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