{"id":32136,"date":"2022-09-10T15:57:44","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/4-ways-pastors-can-encourage-their-spouse\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:57:44","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:57:44","slug":"4-ways-pastors-can-encourage-their-spouse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/4-ways-pastors-can-encourage-their-spouse\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Ways Pastors Can Encourage Their Spouse"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Ryan Rice<\/em><\/p>\n

As pastors, encouragement is refreshing to the soul. When you feel beat up, a kind word can carry you on for days. In fact, Scripture tells us \u201cgood news strengthens the bones\u201d (Proverbs 15:30).<\/p>\n

As pastors, we\u2019re called to be encouragers. Yet, what about our often forgotten ministry partner? Our spouses need encouragement, too.<\/p>\n

In ministry, we can often forget the struggle of being a pastor\u2019s wife, mom, and even a woman pursuing Christ. Busyness may cause us to miss out on our wife\u2019s need for encouragement.<\/p>\n

Your wife may not come right out and share her disappointments, but a keen eye can spot when something isn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

Maybe she\u2019s no longer full of joy, overcome with more worries than peace, or simply feels like a failure. Your response to her feelings can help encourage her to continue in the good fight of faith.<\/p>\n

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It didn\u2019t take me long to notice something wasn\u2019t right with my spouse. She just didn\u2019t seem like herself. I had to learn that in those moments my wife doesn\u2019t need me to be Mr. Fix-it, but Mr. Listen.<\/p>\n

After asking her what was wrong and getting the response \u201cnothing,\u201d I probed a little deeper. Eventually, my wife shared the discouragement she was feeling.<\/p>\n

In those moments, it\u2019s easy to become the pastor with all the right words. But that\u2019s not what she needed. My wife needed her husband to encourage and listen<\/em> to her.<\/p>\n

Men are natural fixers. But in those moments, care, attention, love, and prayer are what our spouse need.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve not always been the best encourager. I can often put a bandage over a wound that needs serious attention, using phrases like, \u201cpick your head up,\u201d \u201cit will all work out,\u201d or \u201clet me tell you what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sadly, the bandages only cover over the wounds; they don\u2019t heal. As we seek to walk with our wives through ministry and life, let us not apply bandaids, but tend to the wounds of their hearts.<\/p>\n

1. Encourage With the Word.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you should preach to your spouse. No, it means you should encourage her with the Word of God.<\/p>\n

As you spend time in the Word, share with your spouse how the Word is speaking to you. Share Scripture with her as she starts her day.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m part of a text group with one of our church seniors who sends me a Scripture verse every day. Consider doing something similar for your spouse.<\/p>\n

2. Take Time Off.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m guilty of sometimes continuing to work on my day off. While I\u2019m getting better at this, this lack of discipline doesn\u2019t benefit my spouse.<\/p>\n

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The same day my spouse shared with me how she was feeling was also the day I was supposed to be off.<\/p>\n

At that moment, I stopped what I was doing to focus on her. Why? Because time matters. It matters to her that she matters to me.<\/p>\n

3. Be Genuine.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

How often do we tell our spouse things like, \u201cthank you,\u201d \u201cI appreciate you,\u201d and \u201cyou\u2019re really gifted and a great wife and mom?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ephesians 4:29 says, \u201cNo foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do we teach our kids to say, \u201cthank you,\u201d to our spouse more than we do? In encouraging your spouse, aim to demonstrate genuine care and love.<\/p>\n

When I say, \u201cyou\u2019re a great mom,\u201d I believe it! So much so, I desire to give her the support she needs in her role as a mom.<\/p>\n

If your spouse has a tough career, be sure to encourage her as she excels in her job.<\/p>\n

She needs to hear from you more than her boss how proud you are of the work she\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n

4. Pray.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

When was the last time you literally laid your hand on your spouse and prayed for her? In the moment of her discouragement, stop and pray.<\/p>\n

Intercede on her behalf before the Lord. Ask the Lord not only to bless, but to strengthen her as well. What if your spouse knew the one intercessor she could always count on was you?<\/p>\n

The reality for each of us is discouragement will come. Jesus even said, \u201cYou will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world\u201d John 16:33b.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not if<\/em> discouragement will come, but when<\/em>. For our spouses, let\u2019s be the ones who encourage and love them through their times of discouragement.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re worth it.<\/p>\n

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Ryan Rice, Sr.<\/h2>\n

@ryanricesr<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ryan is husband to Sean\u00e9, father of Ryan, Jr., Brayden, Reagen, and Bailey, and has been in ministry since 2007. He\u2019s currently the lead pastor of Connect Church of Algiers in New Orleans, Louisiana, which they planted in 2014.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n