Tag: burnout

Steps to Preventing Burnout

Written on January 24, 2024.

“My burnout happened because of two reasons. First, my church expected me to serve them in the place of God. Second, I had unhealthy, personal characteristics that made me feel like I had to serve in the place of God.”

His statement convicted and unsettled me. I was sitting in prayer service a few weeks ago, listening to the testimony of someone who pastored a previous church in the area. He was sharing about the anxiety, exhaustion, and eventual burnout that was the result of serving in three challenging ministry assignments. Now, months later, God reminded him of the call to ministry placed on his life. He opened up to our church about the realities of exhaustion that ministers face.

From John 3:22-30, he shared how John the Baptist responded when his followers were more concerned about people following Jesus’ teachings than John. But John did not falter. He did not grow envious. He understood his ministry assignment, reaffirmed his calling, and clarified something for his followers about Jesus: “He must increase, I must decrease.”

He illustrated his ideas and explained that John the Baptist was like the best man in a wedding. He made all the preparations, but the wedding was never about him. The wedding was about the bridegroom. In ministry, when we make our work about us, it leads us to inevitable hopelessness. Ministry was never meant to be about us.

A Place of Hopelessness

Burnout is a topic that most ministers hear and know about, but none consider that it could actually happen to them. In the podcast last week, Jimbo and Bob discussed burnout this way: “Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged or repeated stress,” adding, “That sounds like ministry.”

It does.

Let’s understand what burnout is. Is it too much stress? Is it fatigue or depression? Fatigue can be cured with a three-day weekend. Stress can be relieved by the completion of projects or tasks. Depression may be close, but depression is doesn’t capture the level of cynicism and escapism frequently associated with burnout.

Brad Hambrick of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors says, “Burnout occurs when the things that we once relied upon for life and energy become a source of discouragement and drain. Burnout occurs when we begin to live as if caring were a necessary enemy, and we begin to prefer the ‘living death’ of numbness to ‘caring exhaustion’ of Christian relationships and service.”

Is Burnout Inevitable?

There has been some disagreement between some pastors about the certainty of burnout. Is it a choice we make or a choice made for us? We dealt with Forced Termination in another blog, But burnout is typically a choice we make when we are past the point of hopelessness. When facing this type of hopelessness, asking the right questions is essential. Instead of asking, “What did I do wrong,” we should ask, “Where am I emotionally, spiritually, and mentally?”

I recently spoke with a pastor who is considering relocating and quitting his church. Here are some of the things he said to me:

“I just don’t like my job anymore.” (no joy)

“There are a hundred people who could do this job better than me.” (comparison)

“I think our search team regrets hiring me.” (lack of self-esteem)

“I think God is pushing me out.” (disillusionment with God)

“Things would be better if we were just back home right now.” (escapism)

“If I were to grade myself, it would probably be marriage: D, parenting: C, school: C…I’m not sure about ministry.” (feelings of failure)

“I’m going to give it to the summer and probably be done.” (giving up)

These are all warning signs of someone dangerously close to burnout. Maybe you’ve had these feelings yourself! As an AMS, how did I respond?

“Brother,” I said. “The last thing I want to do is “be” the voice of God for you, because that is a dangerous place to be! But from an outsider’s perspective, I will say this: this is not about your ministry, your marriage, your parenting, or your education. This is about your walk with the Lord. And if the Lord is releasing you from this ministry assignment, and you have peace about his leadership in that area, that’s one thing. But if you’re exhausted, depressed, lacking joy, and comparing yourself to others, that’s something entirely different.”

Please hear my heart: I know how difficult ministry is! The Bible never promises to us that it will be easy! But by the grace of God, there are a few ways we can deal with the stress of ministry and prevent the looming burnout that we can all grow close to. I will propose four things.

Grace

Do not forget about the grace of God. To dwell on the grace of God is to allow God’s work to heal our wounds and mistakes. Many leave ministry because of some mistakes that they feel forever remove them from ministry. Did you preach a lousy sermon? Did you forget to visit that church member, and now they have passed away? Did you lose your temper during a business meeting?

Do not forget about the grace of God. Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.” John said, “From His fulness we have received grace upon grace.” John 1:16. 1 Cor. 15:10 says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

The song says, “Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe,

All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?”

Will you? Will you receive the grace of God when you’ve failed? Will you, when you’re feeling lost? Will you, when you cannot turn anywhere else? Look to the grace that is greater than all our sins.

Rest

As exhausting as this may sound, you need to schedule rest. I am not talking about planning a week of vacation in your calendar, per se. I am speaking about scheduling rest in your daily rhythms of life. If you work with your mind, rest with your hands. If you work with your hands, relax with your mind. A healthy life requires a good amount of rest. We live in a day of restlessness, and many leave the ministry because they simply have not found rest.

Consider the very gentle and lowly heart of Jesus, who says, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus promises to give rest to all who come to him. Here is my question: are you going to him? Are you resting in Christ? If you get to work, and you are so focused on getting the sermon done, getting the bible study planned, and thinking about the draining budget from your church’s account, yet you have not sat in the presence of God for a while, you are not a person of rest. Rest comes naturally with the designation of time. How much time are you intentionally pursuing to rest and spend with God?

Fruit

When Jesus spoke with his disciples in John 15, he encouraged them to “Abide” in him. He said, “By this, my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples (v8).” Richard Blackaby said, “I have never met a burned-out pastor ready to quit that was deeply abiding in Christ.” In the context of personal holiness, this is such a true statement.

I understand there are good reasons to leave a ministry position at a church. If God calls you elsewhere, you are dealing with an unethical dilemma or do not think it is wise to remain given various circumstances. But burnout is a choice that stems from a point of absolute hopelessness, exhaustion, and depression. Usually, this is an indicator that something wrong has happened on the inside. I understand there is a variety of circumstances that can change the dynamic of departure. But if you are leaving the ministry, it helps to ask, “Why” and “How did I get here?”

Business is not the same thing as fruitfulness. It is all too easy to get “busy” in ministry. But it is possible to be busy without bearing fruit. Accordingly, Jesus did not say, “By this, my Father is glorified: that you do a bunch of busy things for me.” This passage also speaks of pruning. Pruning is when God takes anything away from your life that is not fruitfulness. So, if something gets taken away from you in the ministry you worked so hard for, it could very well be God’s gracious, pruning hand.

Trouble

Here’s my last word to help prevent burnout: trouble. Well, maybe not trouble itself, but the likelihood of it. Going into ministry with a realistic perspective is helpful. Trouble will come. Church members (and we) are sinful sometimes filled with pride. Financial trouble stings. Hurtful words are said. Thankfully, we have the God of comfort on our side.

By the way, I’ve always loved the beautiful words of Paul in 2 Cor. 1. Blessed be the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our affliction! Why did he say this? Oh, he tells us in verse 8:

“For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt like we received the sentence of death!” The closeness of burnout sounds inevitable if not for the separation of one sentence: “But that was to make us not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”

There is nothing that our resurrecting God cannot handle. Know his grace. Rest in Him. Bear fruit. And be aware of trouble. You will have set your mind on him when trouble comes and stayed the course. And if, perhaps, you do leave your church, at least leave after doing all that you could have done to abide in Him.

Multiple pages from busy calendar scattered on a flat surface as seen from above.

Making Sure Busy Doesn’t Equal Burnout

Written on July 28, 2023.

“You need a break. We’re a little concerned that you’re stretching yourself too thin. You just seem really busy and stressed out.” My friend was concerned, and to be honest, I was, too. I was going through our busiest season of ministry and I was so exhausted that I was snapping at my family regularly enough that my kids were walking on eggshells around me. I was mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually drained.

I agreed with my friend that I did absolutely need a break, and I was grateful that they at least acknowledged how hard I was working. But then, in the very next breath, they said, “It would be great though if you could please counsel with my friend– I told her you’d be happy to call her and talk her through some emotional stuff she’s going through.”

Sigh.

Unfortunately, this story isn’t unique. Pastors everywhere are facing jam-packed schedules and struggling under the weight of congregational expectations. Replant pastors are often their church’s pastor, discipleship leader, janitor, maintenance man, events coordinator, interior designer, and communications director. With all these jobs and more, there simply aren’t enough hours in the day!

In 2021, a study conducted by Soul Shepherding, a Christian leadership training ministry, found 75% of pastors reported feeling extreme stress, 90% reported feeling extreme fatigue, 90% were working an average of 55-75 hours per week, and 85% had never had the opportunity to take extended time off.

With those statistics in mind, the latest episode of the Replant Bootcamp podcast sought to give pastors some tips to prevent our busyness from leading to burnout.

The Truth About Being Busy

We are wired to enjoy being needed– and as a pastor, you are definitely needed! Usually by everyone, all at once! But there is a danger in finding your satisfaction in being needed: eventually, you make yourself so necessary that you can never take a break.

Here is a fun fact about work– our brains are also wired to find accomplishing tasks rewarding. Recent studies have proven that your brain releases dopamine when you achieve goals, and that checking off a “to-do” list can make you feel happier.

There are two problems in this, as Bob pointed out. First, sometimes we allow ourselves to love the ministry that we have for Christ more than we are loving Christ. Second, as Jimbo says, ministry never ends– there is always another meeting, someone in the hospital, someone’s house you need to visit, some marriage that needs counseling, a committee that needs to be met with, or a contractor that has to be negotiated with for your AC or your copier lease. Then, of course, you always need to get a weekly sermon prepared. (Whew.)

If the ministry is never “done,” then we never get that rush of dopamine from checking things off. Instead, we just keep feeding the ministry beast– but it’s a monster that is never satisfied. And if you aren’t careful, you will feed your own ego, as well.

Another truth about our busy schedules is that we don’t always allow ourselves to have a proper “Rest Day.” For us, Sunday is a work day. It may be a “day of rest,” for many of our congregation members, but for us, it’s Game Day. It’s the day we show up early, stay late, and preach the Gospel in between.

The command to honor the Sabbath and keep it holy wasn’t about making sure you went to church and then napped. It is a command from our creator to rest– not because He needed it, but because we do. God knew we needed time to reset our minds and to refocus on Him. He knew this about us because He created this need in us! When we get so busy that we neglect the Sabbath, we operate outside of God’s will and His power.

Too Busy or Too Distracted?

Here’s the thing– many times, when we’re busy, it isn’t because we are doing everything God has called us to do. Some of us have lists of ministries, activities, and tasks that aren’t ours to do. Either we have taken on someone else’s responsibilities or we have placed too much emphasis on our own abilities.

Take a look at your life– where are you feeling the most stress? The most anxiety? What task feels like it’s taking more time than you can possibly give? Is this something that God called you to do? Sometimes we forget that while, yes, God called us into ministry, He never asked us to do every part. We forget that He said we are all one body, but different parts, and instead we try to take on every single role in the church. This is a trap of Satan– if we get busy enough, we get stressed, then burnt out, and then distracted. We take our eyes off the goal of loving God and loving people and start to focus on working for God and working for people.

Sometimes it’s not that it’s someone else’s responsibility, but their expectation. Frequently, pastors are approached by people who really feel their church needs a specific ministry or a specific event. These are good projects, and pastors may agree they are needed. But when asked about who will lead it, typically members will say, “Well, not me. I just had the idea. Can’t you lead it or head it up or find someone else to do it?” Their expectation is that we have the time and energy to lead every single thing at the church. In reality, God most likely called them to that ministry. He gave them the vision and he impressed it upon their heart.

When we take on someone else’s expectations of what we should be doing, we shortchange God’s work in their lives, while simultaneously creating unnecessary stress on our own. We feel this pressure to make sure they know we’re working hard. We want our members to see that our car is always in the parking lot, that we are the first to arrive and the last to leave, and that we are always in the office (never mind the fact that so much of ministry happens outside of normal office hours). We feel like being present at every event and every meeting somehow secures our job and makes us seem like the hardest worker in the room.

But here is a hard truth: You’re not God. You aren’t omnipresent. You can’t be everywhere, all the time. The faster you operate knowing that you aren’t capable of doing it all, and the quicker you remind other people of that, the better your schedule looks.

Before You Burn Out

Now that we’ve diagnosed why we’re busy, what can we do about it? Should we just quit everything and become sloths? Tempting, but no.

First, you need to set a sane work schedule. Look at everything you do in a week– literally everything. How much of your time is spent in sermon prep? Bible study? Personal time with God? Kids sporting events? Date night with your spouse? Now start recognizing what is important versus what is urgent. A recent podcast and blog can help you identify those terms better to help you make that decision.

Next, focus your work according to your wiring. You are naturally geared toward specific schedules and productivity times. I am not a morning person– I don’t come alive until after the coffee is in my system and my body is sufficiently awake, usually around 10 am. I am super productive until about 2 pm, then I eat lunch. Typically I have an afternoon slump after lunch but pick back up around 4 and stay powered up until 9 pm. If I schedule an intense meeting at 8:00 am and pencil in my bible study at 3 pm, it’s a recipe for disaster.

Look at your rhythms of productivity and schedule accordingly. When are you most creative? When is a good time for administration related tasks that require less brainpower? When are you at your best physically for those tasks that require more physical strength?

I am also an introvert. I know if I have “peopled” too much for too long, I will eventually run out of power in my social meter. I have to remember to schedule myself appropriately and leave time for me to recharge so I don’t grow weary of socialization.

Now, delegate and elevate. Those people who thought of a great ministry activity and expected you to lead it? Empower them! Allow them the grace to find their footing and lead it themselves. They may make a mistake– that’s OK. You can train them and release them much easier that you can try to do everything yourself. Is there something you’re doing that falls under the description of a committee, elder, or deacon responsibility? Delegate it. They have a job God has called them to do; it’s time for them to do it.

And last, but certainly not least— remember to pencil in time with Jesus at the top of your list. He calls us to come to Him and receive rest when we are weary (Matthew 11:28). Before you burn out completely, start making it a priority to come to Him. Meditate on His words, not just for sermon preparation, but for your own personal time with Him. Allow Him to show you areas of weakness and areas where your ego may be leading instead of Him. Take time to talk to Him, but make sure you include time to listen, too. Jesus longs to bring rest to your exhausted soul– let Him.

Resources for the Busy Pastor

Many of the applications we mentioned in this podcast and the accompanying blog are tips we’ve learned from our friend, Jordan Raynor. Jordan’s book, Redeeming Your Time, has reshaped and changed our schedules for the better and we highly recommend it.

Right now, Jordan is offering Bootcamp listeners a discount for his online course where you will learn the principles Jordan teaches on how to make your work more productive and more meaningful. The course is normally $249, but Bootcamp listeners can sign up for only $49 using the discount code “JImbo.” Email us to connect with Jordan’s online course.

We also have the Replant Summit coming up in exactly one month. If you haven’t registered for it, please do so now! The theme this year is “Renew” and we are excited to meet each of you and spend time with one another.

As always, if digital marketing is taking up too much of your time, our friends at 180 Digital are happy to help. Contact them and see what resources they have to make your life a little easier!

EP 201 -BRAIN FOG AND MINDFULLNESS

Written on July 26, 2023.

Replant Bootcamp

EP 201 -BRAIN FOG AND MINDFULLNESS

00:00 / 26:10

Welcome back Bootcampers! We hope you are doing well. Every single one of us has on occasion dealt with the challenge of “brain fog” and struggled to do even the most simple of tasks. Why? Pastoring is a 24/7 job and we never are fully disconnected from the weight of ministry. Brain drain and fatigue are real, you have to be proactive and get rest.

In a recent survey Pastor’s said:

A study conducted by Soul Shepherding, a Christian leadership training ministry, found the following:

75% of pastors report feeling extreme stress;
90% work an average of 55-75 hours per week.
90% feel fatigued each week
70% struggle with depression.
80% say their ministry has negatively impacted their marriage and family
85% have never had the opportunity to take extended time off.[1]

What can a pastor do when they are just totally exhausted? The guys break down some practical realities and then offer some solutions. If you’re tired, worn out and struggling to do the next thing, give this EP a listen.

Truths

We love to work-get stuff done and it feeds us (ego, drive, sense of accomplishment)
We love to feel needed.
Ministry is exhausting-it is never finished
We were not made to work and work and work (God mandated a day of rest, for reflection and renewal)

Application

Set a sane work schedule
Focus your work according to your wiring.
- Creative
- Admin
- People
- Meditation/Evaluation
Delegate and elevate – you cannot and are not supposed to do it all
Establish a daily quitting time (of course respond to emergencies)
Fellowship with Jesus (prayer, devotion, meditation)

[1] https://www.christianity.com/wiki/church/what-should-pastors-do-when-worn-out-and-weary.html

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EP 185 SELF CARE FOR THE PASTOR/REPLANTER w/ FRANK LEWIS

Written on April 5, 2023.

Replant Bootcamp

EP 185 SELF CARE FOR THE PASTOR/REPLANTER w/ FRANK LEWIS

00:00 / 25:40

Welcome to the Replant Bootcamp, a podcast for pastors and church leaders who are looking to replant and revitalize churches. Today’s episode has the guys discussing self-care for pastors, a topic that is often overlooked but extremely important. Our guest for today’s episode is Frank Lewis, who multiple years of experience in pastoral ministry.

One of the main points that Frank emphasizes is the need for pastors to prioritize their spiritual devotions. This means spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and seeking God’s guidance. As pastors, it’s easy to get caught up in the demands of ministry and neglect our personal spiritual growth. However, Frank reminds us that our ministry flows out of our relationship with God, and we need to make that relationship a priority.

Another important aspect of self-care for pastors is taking care of our physical health. Frank encourages pastors to make time for regular exercise and to eat a healthy diet. Exercise not only benefits our physical health but can also improve our mental health and reduce stress.Similarly, eating a healthy diet can give us the energy we need to carry out our ministry and improve our overall well-being.

Finally, Frank emphasizes the importance of developing a circle of friends who are also pastors. This provides a support system of people who understand the unique challenges and stresses that come with pastoral ministry. These friends can offer encouragement, accountability, and a safe space to share struggles and challenges.

Thank you, Frank Lewis, for sharing your insights and wisdom with us today. And thank you to our listeners for tuning in to the Replant Bootcamp.

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