Being in full-time ministry is a very rewarding endeavor. You have the opportunity to impact other people’s lives and point them towards Jesus. What could be more fulfilling than that?
Yet, there is a reality of full-time ministry as well. It’s really hard. The hours can be long. The emotional investment into other people’s messy lives can be very draining. The constant need to have answers for people, or to have vision/strategy/programming planned out well and ahead of time can be a heavy burden. Add into that a variety of other personal issues, like balancing personal/family time with ministry time, our own personal inadequacies and our sinful nature that constantly wants to assert itself into our lives. And let’s not forget that Satan is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking to try to devour those of us that want to shepherd and serve others. Add it all up and it really isn’t a big leap for those in ministry to move from a “stressful/busy season of ministry” into burnout.
The internet has conflicting data on ministry burnout. There are a lot of sites and stats out there that say this is a huge problem for people in ministry. Just Google “Ministry Burnout” and you’ll get hundreds of links that you could spend all day perusing.
In 2015, Pastor Ed Stetzer dove deeper into the fact vs. myth of ministry burnout here. It’s possible that the stats have been overblown, as Stetzer believes, but there is also a reality that this is a real issues for many ministry leaders today.
I know this reality well because I experienced it. And I personally know several other ministry leaders that have experienced it as well. I’ll unpack my own burnout story at another time, but for now, I want other leaders to know that if you’re there right now, or feel like you are on your way there, you are not alone, and my heart hurts for you.
Pastor Carey Nieuwhof has been there too. He wrote a post entitled “11 Signs You’re More Than Just Tired… You’re Burning Out” on his blog. I resonated with far too many of those signs a few years ago. Perhaps you can relate to several of those signs as well?
If so, I want to offer myself as a friend who has been there too. I found a few resources along the way that have helped me as I walked the road of burnout recovery. I’d like to share a few of them here, and then encourage you to checkout my Resource page for a more extensive list.
Find a support network. Do you have close friends you can trust? Is there a ministry network in your town/city? If not, there are a lot of Facebook groups for people in ministry that align with your role, demographics, area where you live, etc. Get connected to others who are doing similar kinds of ministry that you are. Having a support system of others who get you and understand the ins and the outs of what you do is really helpful.
See a Christian Counselor. This might seem scary to some, but I think every person, no matter what season of life they are in, can really benefit from perspective from a trusted source. You can Google Christian Counseling in your area if you’re not sure who you would want to talk to. Make sure it’s someone you can trust and I would recommend it isn’t someone who is a part of your church/ministry. You need some layers of removal in order to truly talk about what’s going on inside of you. Some counselors will work with pastors for free or with a discounted rate, which can be a big deal, since figuring out how to pay for professional counseling with a ministry salary can add more stress to your already challenging life.
Take some time away. Talk to your immediate supervisor and see if you can get some time away to just focus on you and your needs. You might need to use some accumulated personal days or vacation days, but taking a step back from the constant demands of ministry is important for rest and healing. Depending on your level of burnout, you may only need a few days or a week. For those at the extreme end of the burnout spectrum, you may need more time. Talk to your supervisor about the possibility of some extended time off or a Sabbatical. However much time you’re able to get away, use it to spend extended time with God, rest, read, talk with friends, spend time with family, take a walk, enjoy a hobby and just breathe a bit. We can’t constantly empty ourselves out for the sake of others without finding ways to be refilled.
Do some reading. There are several books that address the issue of burnout, depression, suffering, worry, pain, etc. Head over to my resource page to see which ones I’ve read and found helpful. You can also take a few minutes on Amazon and do a search to see what kinds of books you could find helpful, as well as descriptions about the book, and reviews from other readers. There are a lot of topical devotional resources out there that can encourage you and help you. I have used several (a few of them more than once) during my season of burnout and recovery. Hearing another person’s perspective, as well as God’s thoughts through His Word, are life-giving in times of burnout.
Having walked this road, I know how helpful some of these things can be. It’s easy to feel alone and helpless. Trust me, you are neither alone, nor is your situation hopeless. While your first instinct might be to withdraw inward, receiving help and encouragement from others and investing in your own personal walk is the best medicine to fight burnout.
Have you experienced burnout in your past? I’d love to hear what ways you found to not let burnout win.
Comments