2020 brought it’s fair share of problems. Racial unrest, political divides, global pandemics, governmental mandates and regulations. And in the midst of all of it, pastors are having to learn how to pastor their people well in this type of climate.

2021 is here and we are still in the middle of it. In fact, it’s just as hard in 2021 as it was in 2020, and your pastor may be having a hard time. Here’s what you should know about your pastor as he is pastoring in this climate.

1. Know that your pastor is pastoring people on both sides of the spectrum when it comes to governmental mandates.

Churches are not required to adhere to the mandates. However, he is dealing with people who think masks should be mandated and people who think masks should go away. He knows that if he mandates masks some people will refuse to gather, and if he doesn’t mandate masks, other people will refuse to gather. He’s being criticized as unloving to others if he doesn’t mandate masks and is being criticized as fearful if he does mandate masks.

Pray for your pastor that he has wisdom in how to handle these mandates.

2. Know that your pastor is dealing with criticism when it comes to gatherings.

Whether your pastor is meeting indoors, or outdoors, or online, he is being criticized by someone in the decisions he is making. He is not going to be able to make everyone happy. He is striving to make the best decisions for all the people in his church and to keep his church in unity.

Pray for your pastor that he remains faithful and that he endures under criticism in his church.

3. Know that your pastor doesn’t fully know how to pastor in this climate.

There is not a class or a TED Talk in how to pastor in a pandemic. This is new to him. And more than likely, this pandemic has treated him like a punching bag. Your pastor has taken some hits this past year. Pastoring as brought on a whole new amount of stress. He’s not only dealing with regulations and mandates, but he’s dealing with people who land all over the spectrum. He’s lost sleep, he’s struggled to focus on his time with his family, he’s struggled to focus on his studies, and he’s been hurt in different ways.

Pray for your pastor as he seeks to lead his church how God is leading him to. Your pastor could probably do with a word from you on how much you appreciate him. A text message or a phone call goes a long way.

4. Know that your pastor cares for you.

Your pastor is not making these decisions in spite. He’s seeking to lead the church in a way that is most beneficial to you and your discipleship in the midst of the hardest year he’s ever had to pastor. He cares for you. He wants to see you grow in Christ and in God’s Word. He wants to see you love others and serve the church.

Pray that that your pastors heart continues to grow for Christ’s church and that his heart does not grow weary.

5. Know that, in the stress of criticisms and mandates, he is still trying to prepare sermons and bible studies and pastor a people in a pandemic.

His workload hasn’t got any lighter because of Covid. Instead, it’s got a lot heavier. It’s hard enough preparing sermons and Bible studies week in and week out, and then you put the load of everything that has come with Covid on top of him. He is still trying to focus and to prepare sermons that will help you in your walk with Christ.

6. Know that your pastor is tired.

He’s tired of the mandates, the divisions, the criticisms, the continual shift in Covid spikes. He’s tired. He’s exhausted. People work is tiring work. He’s trusting in the strength that God gives him, but he’s also ready for an end to all of this. He’s lost sleep, he’s in overdrive, and the focus he needs continues to be swayed with the distraction of the current cultural climate.

Pray that your pastor has endurance as he continues to pastor.

When I was entering into ministry, my youth pastor from high school once told me that your people will never understand the weight you are under until they walk in your shoes. Isn’t that the truth? Your pastor is dealing with more than you understand. He’s questioned his own calling, his own strength, his own inadequacies as he’s pastoring in a pandemic. Give him grace as he continues to do so, faithfully. Pray for him, he needs it. Show him you love, care, and support him. That will do his heart good.