Does ministry ever stress you out?
Of course, it does.
Maybe it's how personal and pastoral life overlap or the burden for people's eternity. The weight of ministry is a real thing. If you lead in any capacity and make decisions, odds are you have goals to hit, change to manage, and complaints to deal with. Throw in long hours and ministry pay, and you have all the ingredients for significant stress.
Here are three responses you should have when you get stressed out:
1 - Go To Bed
Don't make tomorrow's decisions based on today's emotions.
Emotions are a great gift from God. But they can also cloud our judgment and cause us to make decisions that we would never do under different circumstances. Go to bed. Sleep on it. Take some time to process the emotions of 'right now' to make the best decision for the future. Most decisions can wait until tomorrow.
I would rather have a delayed decision than a dumb decision.
2 - Read God's Word
You either rolled your eyes or judged me for not making this the first point. But when it comes to ministry, our devotion can become our professional life. Our time with God can be sermon prep, preparing verses for vision casting meetings, and studying to write the curriculum. Don't even get me started on prayer (when was the last time you talked to God to build your relationship, not just your ministry). Develop a devotion life that doesn't have to do with work.
3 - Call A Friend
This week, I was at our annual staff retreat. As our senior pastor wrapped up the week, he gave a talk called "How To Survive And Thrive In Ministry." One of the things he highlighted was to have real friends.
A real friend is someone:
to celebrate with
to grieve with
to be normal with
to be accountable with
to laugh with
to grow with
to humble you
Ministry can be draining. So connect with a friend who refreshes you.
Three Action Steps You Can Do Immediately
If I were you, here are three practical action steps you can take immediately.
1 - Take Time Off
Chances are you have vacation time. Please take it. Be intentional about scheduling some time off to recharge and rest. A dead battery can not jumpstart anything. If you're overwhelmed and feeling like you're on the edge of breaking down, get some time on your calendar to refresh your soul.
2 - Change Your Routine
One of my favorite stories in the Bible is Joshua taking over leadership after Moses dies. It's wild for me to think about the stress that Joshua must have felt taking over for one of the most outstanding leaders that Israel would ever know. In Joshua 1:8, God tells Joshua to "Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."
I love the picture of Joshua starting his day by candlelight, reading God's word, and preparing his mind for everything he would do that day. And I love the picture of Joshua sitting down at night to refresh his soul in God's word again after a hard day leading stubborn people to do God's will for their lives.
If ministry stress is getting the best of you, try to make getting in God's word your first and final act of the day.
3 - Schedule A Coaching Call
If you are stressed about your ministry, schedule a 30-minute coaching call with me (it doesn't cost you anything).
I want to help you navigate the stress of ministry in a way that can help you grow as a leader! I look forward to hearing your story and working on church together!
Have a great Thursday!
Patrick Weikle 👊
