Watch the video that inspired this post here.
When I was starting out in ministry, I believed that hard work was synonymous with faithfulness. I thought that to be a successful pastor or ministry leader, I had to give it everything — every hour, every ounce of energy, every thought.
And I don’t regret that passion.
But if I’m being honest, that mindset nearly crushed me.
I wasn’t prepared for the slow burn of exhaustion that comes with constantly running on empty.
I didn’t realize that neglecting rest in the name of ministry isn’t heroic — it’s unsustainable.
For the last 6 years, I wrestled with various levels of burnout.
If you’re a young minister reading this, I want to encourage you: you don’t have to go down that road. There’s a better way to serve faithfully while still maintaining your own well-being.
They highlighted several key principles for avoiding burnout while still giving your best, and I think these ideas are especially crucial for those of us in ministry.
Let me share a few of those lessons with you.
Stress + Rest = Growth
This formula changed the way I think about work: Stress + Rest = Growth.
In ministry, we often emphasize the “stress” part — working hard, pushing through long hours, and pouring ourselves out for others.
But what we miss is the other side of the equation: rest.
I used to think that rest was something I’d get to eventually, once I had checked off all the ministry tasks on my list. I am wired towards service, not self care.
But the truth is, rest is not something to squeeze in when you can; it’s part of the process. It’s the space where real growth happens — physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I used to see myself as a marathon runner, pushing forward at a steady pace, week after week, thinking that ministry required constant movement.
But the truth is, healthy ministry is more like a series of sprints — intense efforts, followed by periods of rest and reflection. You can’t be at your best if you’re constantly running without taking time to recover.
I’ve learned this the hard way. Over the past several years, especially after moving to Oklahoma, starting a podcast network, taking a job at a wonderful yet financially struggling ministry nonprofit, and trying to establish new ministry roots, I kept running without stopping.
The result wasn’t more effectiveness; it was exhaustion.
I was so focused on doing the work that I neglected my own well-being, and in the end, my work suffered for it.
If I could go back and tell my younger self something, it would be this: Rest is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.
You are not superhuman, and God never called you to be.
He called you to be faithful, yes, but faithfulness includes caring for your soul as much as it includes caring for others.
The Importance of Setting Healthy Limits
Another lesson from the video that stood out to me was about finding the right level of stress.
The analogy they used was weightlifting: If you lift too much, you’ll hurt yourself, but if you lift too little, you won’t grow.
I see so many young ministers (my younger self included) trying to “lift too much.”
We take on too many responsibilities, say yes to too many commitments, and feel guilty when we don’t push ourselves to the absolute limit.
But this kind of overexertion doesn’t lead to long-term growth — it leads to burnout. And when you’re burned out, your ability to serve effectively diminishes.
On the other hand, there’s the opposite danger: playing it too safe.
Maybe you’ve been hurt in ministry before (I know I have), or you’ve seen others burn out, and so you strategically keep your load light to protect yourself.
But there’s no growth in that either.
The key is to find a balance — to challenge yourself, but within healthy limits.
As a bivocational minister, I find this balance hard, but I am working on it daily.
I’m thankful for all the times the Lord led to step out in faith and answer His call to build new things, like our School of Discipleship ministry.
I’m also ashamed of all the times I kept grinding on ministry tasks I felt were important, but in retrospect, they were not things God specifically called me to.
I’ve had to learn how to say no, how to delegate, and how to trust that God can accomplish His purposes without me trying to do everything.
Ministry is about faithfulness, not franticness.
Growth Happens in the Quiet
One of the most profound realizations I’ve had is that growth often happens when I step away — not from ministry as a calling, but from my own frantic drive to prioritize doing things for God over being with God.
As ministers, we like to believe that the most important work happens when we’re actively engaged in preaching, teaching, counseling, or serving.
And yes, those moments are crucial.
But sometimes, the most significant growth happens in the quiet moments — when we take time to rest, reflect, and reconnect with Christ.
The video mentioned how many breakthrough ideas come not while we’re at our desks, but while we’re taking a walk, resting, or simply stepping away from the work for a while.
I’ve found this to be so true in my own life.
Some of my most meaningful insights into ministry and some of my deepest personal growth have come during moments of rest — when I wasn’t striving, but simply being still.
It’s in the stillness that God often speaks the loudest.
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Yet so many of us in ministry rarely make time to be still.
As a bivocational minister, my time is already very limited. Prayer when I’d rather put in 3 extra hours of work after 5pm can sometimes feel like a sacrifice because it can feel like I’m stalling progress.
But without it, it’s like trying to drive a car up a hill without ever stopping for gas.
We’re often too busy doing the work of God to slow down and listen to Him.
But real growth — the kind that shapes your character and your calling — happens when you make space for rest.
Routine: A Rhythm for Sustainability
Another valuable takeaway from the video was the importance of routine.
For ministers, routines can feel restrictive or even “unspiritual,” but the truth is, establishing a healthy rhythm can be a game-changer for avoiding burnout.
One interesting obervation from the video was that Stephen King, the famous writer, sits down every day in the same spot, at the same time, with the same music playing, to write.
His brain knows that when he’s in that environment, it’s time to work.
We can apply this same principle to ministry — setting aside dedicated time for work, and just as importantly, dedicated time for rest.
For me, this has looked like creating intentional space in my backyard workshop for prayer, reading, and reflection — and dedicated space in my home office for focused deep work.
It’s looked like setting aside monthly recurring meetings with a spiritual director, and with other men in my local church who can encourage me and pray for me.
It’s also looked like learning to unplug when I’m home with my family, giving myself permission to not check emails or think about the next sermon.
Ministry isn’t just about what we do for others — it’s about how we allow God to minister to us, and that requires time and intentionality.
Finding Purpose in the Hard Days
Finally, the video touched on a topic that really hit home: the role of purpose in sustaining long-term motivation.
When you’re tired, discouraged, or overwhelmed, it’s easy to lose sight of why you’re doing what you’re doing.
But when you reconnect with your purpose — when you remember the why behind your work — it gives you the strength to keep going.
In ministry, our purpose is ultimately to serve God and love others. But it’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks and lose sight of that higher calling!
I’ve had seasons where I felt like I was just going through the motions, juggling multiple part time jobs and trying to keep my ministry going… yet constantly finding myself more focused on the checklists than the calling. And in those moments, burnout felt inevitable.
But when I remember that my work is an act of worship, that it’s not about the numbers or the affirmations from others, but about faithfully serving the people God has entrusted to me, it renews my strength.
When I think of my humble little band of students who give up 3 hours of their sunday nights to study Jesus, I’m filled with joy. When I think of the young people who write me telling me how much our podcasts have encouraged them, I myself find encouragement. When I think of my first ministry — my wife and son — and how as a result of follwing God’s direction I’ve been able to carve out a life where I can serve others and yet work from home and be present with them daily, I’m filled with deep thankfulness.
Purpose is what sustains us in the hard days, and we all need to reconnect with that purpose regularly.
Final Thoughts
Ministry is a calling, but it’s not meant to be a burden.
If you’re a young minister, my encouragement to you is this: learn from those of us who have been through the burnout cycle.
You don’t have to wait until you hit a wall to realize the importance of rest, boundaries, and balance.
Start now. Embrace the rhythm of work and rest.
Challenge yourself, but don’t overextend.
Create routines that nourish your soul, and always stay connected to the purpose behind your work.
God hasn’t called you to burn out for Him — He’s called you to be faithful, and that includes being faithful in how you care for yourself.
