Before I go any further, I want to make a some clarifications. One, this will be a bit of a unique post for me. Two, I am in no way an expert on the psychology of an introvert or extrovert. Three, I am not promoting one personality over the other. Four, I am an introvert… and I am not alone.
As a church, over the past couple weeks we have begun forming our community groups. We are incredibly excited about our groups, and we have been praying for our groups to launch well. As we launched the groups, a good number of our people completed a survey asking about their location, family size, and other information for us to use to help connect them to a group that would be a good fit for them. One of the questions on this survey was, “Are you an introvert of an extrovert?”
The response that we received from this question was incredibly lopsided in favor of the introverts. So many people in our core team are introverted! Because of this, I wanted to write a bit of an honest reflection about my life and my journey as an introverted pastor. Maybe, some of you who are reading this will be able to relate and gain some encouragement in your context.
Typically, Pastors are expected to be “people” persons. Their days are filled with group meetings, one-on-one meetings, and staff meetings. They are not often alone, but meeting with someone in their office, over coffee, or over lunch. More than that, the Bible clearly calls every Christian to live in community with each other and to devote our lives to the proclamation of the gospel to others. So, if the Bible calls Christians to live that kind of life, then the pastor should be the perfect example in each of these areas, right? Often unspoken is the expectation that a good pastor is the pastor who is continually busy with people.
Well, enter me… the introvert.
In the midst of all of those expectations, I can easily begin to feel like I am an introvert in an extrovert’s role. Over the past couple years, God has begun to change the way I feel about myself. Here are two things that I have discovered that I hope will be helpful for you.
1. God equips.
“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
– Hebrews 13:21(ESV)
As a child of God, I have been empowered by God to carry out His work for His glory. I don’t ever need to wonder about this, instead I can rest on this. Honsetly, would an extroverted personality be convenient to possess at certain times and in certain situations? Absolutely. However, am I completely and totally equipped to accomplish the things God has called me to accomplish as a pastor? Absolutely! (And I believe that my introverted personality is a part of that!) I have all that I need to do all that God has for me to do.
2. God designs.
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
– Psalms 139:13-14 (ESV)
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, your personality type is by design. The reality is that there is a beauty in my introverted personality. It is a gift from God. I love moments away from the noise. I love my early mornings before the rest of the world is awake when I can sit alone, pray, think, read, write, and reflect. My personality leads me to flourish in these moments, and there is a beauty in that. We should find encouragement when we see the beauty found in the way God has designed us. (Of course this applies to you extroverts as well.)
The truth is that whether you are introverted or extroverted, you are uniquely equipped and designed for God’s glory and mission.