Strengthen your faith and prepare to be used by God by cultivating four key spiritual habits. Discover how dedicated Bible study, insightful spiritual reading, articulating your testimony, and engaging with a small group can profoundly enhance your spiritual fitness and readiness.

During the challenges of 2020, many pastors felt they were on an island with strained relationships and without a place to process the major issues facing their congregations and communities. This became a recipe for burnout and, in many cases, an early exit from pastoral ministry. In that environment, I planted a church in Sanford, Florida. Our church soon realized, however, that if we were going to see our city flourish for the glory of God, it would take more than our church alone to move the needle. We’d need a community, a city, and a region of pastors committed to refreshing one another around our unity in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the advancement of his kingdom. I sense that other pastors are feeling the weight of the lack of renewal and unity among pastors and churches. The everyday challenges of ministry are hard enough. An array of cultural pressures and an increasingly divisive climate make it even harder. Pastors need each other. But where can we find the renewal and unity we need? Pastoral Friendships I started by reaching out to other like-minded local pastors. Pastors often have their guard up when meeting a fellow minister in their area. Questions naturally arise: “What does this pastor want from me?” “Is he trying to draw people away from our church?” To overcome these suspicions, we must form authentic relationships. Through pastoral friendships, I began to see the Lord providentially work in ordinary yet powerful ways to bring unity and renewal. Many pastors were isolated and worn down from the demands of ministry and the pressures of the political and societal climate. As a young church planter, I was humbled by how seasoned pastors opened up to me about their struggles. As we connected through friendship and prayer, many shared their lives honestly and humbly. Through pastoral friendships, I began to see the Lord providentially work in ordinary yet powerful ways to bring unity and renewal. I thought that if I could connect some of these men together, they could become a tremendous encouragement to one another and help carry the burdens of ministry. So I began connecting pastors with pastors: young church planters with seasoned shepherds. Over time, I witnessed the Spirit’s work renewing and unifying pastors in our area—not through programs or outreach initiatives but through the ancient gospel of Jesus Christ that unites us. Unity in the Gospel After much prayer, and after hearing from local brother pastors who longed for a safe place to gather with like-minded shepherds, I gathered a few of my close pastor friends. Our first meeting was beautiful to behold: pastors from around our region engaging with one another, laughing, crying, praying, and sitting across the table sharing breakfast and fellowship. It was glorious. One local pastor led us in a time of prayer, encouraging us to pair up with someone we didn’t know and pray Scripture over one another as we shared burdens and requests. Another pastor led us in singing praises to God. There’s something especially moving about hearing weary pastors sing to the Lord together. Then a seasoned pastor shared God’s Word and reflected on the joys, challenges, traps, and snares of shepherding over many years of ministry. As we closed by singing the doxology, men had tears in their eyes and smiles of hope on their faces. We felt a renewed sense of unity and a renewed realization that we don’t have to do ministry alone. We aren’t isolated laborers but fellow workers in God’s kingdom. The gathering was only supposed to last two hours, but it ended up twice as long. Pastors exchanged phone numbers, scheduled future meetings, and lingered in meaningful conversation. It gave me great joy that I finally had to ask everyone to head home. TGC Regional Chapter For years, I wondered if any organization was pursuing this kind of work among pastors. A local friend informed me there was one, and he connected me with The Gospel Coalition’s regional chapter leadership. After a Zoom call, I saw that TGC desired to anchor its current vision and mission in local coalitions of pastors regularly gathering for renewal and unity in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There’s something especially moving about hearing weary pastors sing to the Lord together. I volunteered to serve as a regional chapter leader in Central Florida and invited several pastors to join the steering committee. Since then, we’ve been deeply encouraged by TGC’s leadership and their support as we seek to strengthen pastors and churches in our region through quarterly gatherings centered on this common goal. Our most recent gathering of the TGC Orlando Chapter was another beautiful sight: 50 local pastors, including seasoned pastors, church planters, and pastoral interns, all gathering to refresh one another and be renewed in the work and flourishing of the gospel for the glory of God. Renewal and Unity If you’re a local church pastor, I encourage you to prayerfully consider becoming part of this work. Maybe the Lord is calling you to be a chapter leader, or perhaps to join and invest in a local chapter. Under the umbrella of the TGC Confessional Statement, you can gather in a safe and healthy environment to build relationships around the gospel and labor together toward the common goal of advancing the kingdom of heaven in our local regions.

Andrew Wilson is one of the happiest guys I know. So it only makes sense that he’d write a book called Happiness: What It Is, Where to Find It, and How to Make It Last Forever (Crossway). He’s the expert. I’m delighted when I see Andrew at a TGC conference or a retreat for The Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics. I look forward to every chance to spend time with him. He writes in this book, “Nothing is more honoring to a friend, a child, or a spouse than saying they make you happy. Nothing is more demeaning to them than telling them they don’t.” I can say, with no reservation, Andrew makes me happy when we’re together. But where does that leave the rest of us? If we’re not naturally happy? If we’re not feeling happy right now? If we’re not hanging out with Andrew? The Declaration of Independence, 250 years ago, put happiness at the center of life’s aim: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Andrew covered that statement in his excellent earlier book, Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West. Given the anniversary, I snuck in a question or two about that fateful year. And we discussed much more, including the difference between joy and happiness, whether God promises happiness, and why millennials grew up to be sad. In This Episode 00:00 – What makes us genuinely happier 00:40 – Why Andrew Wilson wrote a book about happiness 04:29 – Happiness, sorrow, and biblical examples of deep joy 07:26 – Is joy different from happiness? 11:53 – Does God promise happiness to Christians? 13:35 – Why millennials became less happy as adults 19:41 – Freedom, responsibility, and the limits of liberation 23:21 – The “problem of superfluous happiness” 26:01 – How pursuing happiness helps us fight sin 29:23 – Why virtue, gratitude, and humility make us happier 32:53 – Compassion versus empathy 34:15 – Turning delights into disciplines 37:06 – Remaking the World and America’s 250th anniversary 39:48 – What makes the United States unique? 47:08 – Discovery, defense, temperament, and optimism 48:55 – Closing and book recommendations Resources Mentioned: Happiness by Andrew Wilson Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson Generations by Jean M. Twenge The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt The Expulsive Power of a New Affection by Thomas Chalmers SIGN UP for my newsletter, Unseen Things. Help The Gospel Coalition renew and unify the contemporary church in the ancient gospel: Donate today. Don’t miss an episode of Gospelbound with Collin Hansen: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube TGC Updates

The season you are in right now was not a surprise to God.

Go to Jesus First. Pray before you sleep. Live for J.O.Y. – Jesus. Others. Yourself.These are the outward thoughts of my nine-year-old, who was just caught peeking over my shoulder, reading the title, and quickly suggesting positive affirmations to help you sleep. While that sounds sweet and all, I am currently going on very little sleep myself as she was at my bedside at 2 am this morning with a severe stomachache, therefore causing my own tummy to feel queasy. Yet, when I took out my laptop this afternoon to write, she immediately perked up, had this twinkle in her eye and eagerly said, “I love affirmations! Mom, can I help you write today?” I mean, how could I refuse?So, there you have it my friends. A few affirmations from a lovely little lady that recently accepted Jesus into her heart. Oh, and yes, she is obviously feeling a bit better, thankfully. However, her sweet little response just got me to thinking about the sheer innocence of a child. If only we could all make our faith so simple and live it out in a way that exudes the utter joy we gain from purely following Him. Maybe this is why Jesus commands us to have faith like a child (Matthew 18:3)?Okay, so maybe you are thinking…How does this help me sleep? Well, as you try to drift off into serene slumber, only to find yourself tossing and turning, I invite you to recall a time in your life when faith came effortlessly. Mediate on that moment for a bit. Were you a child or a young adult? Maybe you are walking in that simple faith right now. The truth is wherever you may be on your faith journey, Jesus is ready to meet you where you are and remind you of His unwavering love.When we hold this kind of childlike heart that allows us to welcome God’s presence, we can slip into a dreamlike state in blissful peace. And I can sense you are in need of that. Yep, me too! So, will you join me in embracing the simplicity of your faith this evening as you grab hold of the “affirmations” above and recite a few beautiful truths that come straight out of Scripture. Then, let these words ease your heart, saturate your mind, and calm your soul as you drift off to sleep.Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Biserka Stojanovic