Pastors Thriving | Ministry, Leadership, Discipleship, Church Growth, Small Church Strategies · Kevin Elworth-Business & Ministry Coach, Passive Income, Entrepreneur Pastor, Ministry Marketing

70 - Real, Raw Encouragement: Exactly What to Do When You're Frustrated

·23 min

This episode features host Kevin, a veteran pastor with nearly 20 years of ministry experience, offering raw encouragement to pastors feeling frustrated and discouraged. He speaks directly from a place of personal frustration about unmet goals and a lack of visible progress in his own work. Kevin identifies a common source of frustration as investing time, energy, and finances into a God-given idea without seeing the desired return on investment. He shares his personal morning routine of setting his intention on scriptures like Philippians 4:13 and Proverbs 3:5-6 to combat negative thoughts. Kevin describes hearing a "still small voice" telling him to "just trust my process," which he admits is difficult when the process isn't his own plan. He warns against pacifying frustration with social media scrolling, equating it to unhealthy escapism like substance abuse. The host references a recent personal retreat where he felt God was pruning him, guided by John 15, which he interprets often involves the painful removal of relationships, not just sin. He delves into Isaiah 43, applying its promises of redemption and protection to current personal struggles, emphasizing that God's redemption is a daily process beyond initial salvation. Kevin practices extensive journaling to track "the movement of the miracle" and create an outlet for divine insight. With vulnerability, he reveals the slow sales of his book "Breaking the I Can't Cycle," his online course, and his key product, the Make More Disciples Challenge, which has yet to sell. He recounts God urging him not to quit, stating the destination for him is "higher" and requires a unique, tenacious growing season. A key insight is the danger of defining *how* God will provide, which blinds leaders to other opportunities He might be orchestrating nearby. Kevin advises maintaining an "open hand" toward God's methods and staying aware of alternative pathways for breakthrough. The episode's tone is intensely personal, confessional, and pastoral, resembling a heartfelt monologue or a vulnerable prayer journal entry. It is educational in its use of scripture but feels more like an intimate coaching session or a pep talk from a fellow struggler. Pastors or ministry leaders feeling isolated, financially strained, or disillusioned by slow growth will find deep resonance and solidarity in this episode. Listeners seeking highly structured, data-driven leadership strategies or theological debate should skip this raw, emotion-focused conversation.

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