Monday Morning Comfort for Pastors, on Tuesday

Sneak peak into a pastor's soul: I don't know a single Bible-teaching pastor worth his salt who walks away from church on Sunday completely satisfied with how his sermon went. Having studied the passage for weeks, labored over structure, outlines, and words, and searching for "just the right illustration," we almost always realize walking away on Sunday that we haven't done the passage justice. Something didn't go exactly like we had hoped.

I take a lot of comfort in Isaiah 55:11. "So is my word which goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

The knowledge and application of Scripture in the human heart is first and foremost a supernatural event (1 Corinthians 2:13-16). If God doesn't show up, it doesn't matter how good your opening illustration went over. But if you're faithfully preaching God's words, He promises a return.