In R.E.C. Browne’s classic work on homiletics The Ministry of the Word, he writes, “Creative work always brings creative workers to the edge of an abyss. It is there that the most creative work is done and it is there that conditions exist which may be the undoing of the worker: passionate faith gives rise to profound doubt; love of truth dreads error, bringing one to the verge of falsehood; depth of love increases ability to hate in the name of love; zeal drives the zealous towards fanaticism; desire to influence others brings one into the danger of being enslaved by those whom he would free. Great preaching, like great art, cannot be the work of those who know no chaos within them and it cannot be the work of those who are unable to master the chaos within them (p. 17).”
For those who preach regularly, this place of chaos is known all too well – and it can be paralyzing. I pray the Lord strengthens you to continue His work proclaiming this Word that brings life. May the apostle Peter’s words be of encouragement to you today: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11).”
Mike and Peter have responded to a comment on this post.
Biblical Preaching 
Thanks for this encouragement. It’s good to know I’m not the only one who feels chaos every time I’m preparing to preach.
I’m sure you mean more than this – but in my life this chaos mainly turns up in waves of fear: fear that I won’t get the prep done in time, fear that I’ll just never understand the passage, fear that I might mislead people, fear of that ‘stricter judgement’ for teachers, fear that I’m being presumptious, presuming wrongly that God has called me to preach, fear that I’m trusting in my abilities to communicate rather than God, fear that I’m not going to communicate it well, fear that I’ve misinterpreted the passage, fear that I might forget what I’m going to say (even though this has never happened!!), fear that I’ve not prayed enough, fear, if I’m honest, of criticism or disapproval, fear of encouraging legalism, fear of pushing others towards license, fear that I’ve manipulated the text in my tryng to communicate, fear that I’m just doing this for vain-glory rather than for God, fear that I might teach falsely, fear that God will not help me or take this ability from me, fear that I’ll never get the outline clear in my head, fear that I can’t do this…..
I’ve never been pregnant but I imagine this moving towards preaching feels similar (in a much smaller way!) to moving towards birth – anxiety about the birth growing as the event nears, the event becoming close to all-consuming in your mind as you get close, excitement, a tired sense that you just want to have it done and over with, then relief after the birth….!!!! Oh, and joy too!!
Very well said Tim. My experience resonates with your experience in many, many ways.
It’s funny, I have also likened the preaching process to pregnancy! The only part you forgot is that after ‘giving birth’ everyone has an opinion about your very precious baby.
And then on Monday you have post-partum blues and on Tuesday find you’re pregnant again. It’s a good thing the process doesn’t actually need hormone changes to work!