5 Ways to Deal with Easter Stress as a Pastor

Easter is a pivotal point in the Christian calendar, rich with the promise of eternal life. However, the Easter season can become entirely different for us as pastors. It’s a time to lead and guide our congregations and reflect on our own spiritual journeys. The week leading up to Easter Sunday is a paradox of contemplation and chaos for us. Often, the demands of our pastoral roles overshadow the personal significance of this season. 

The day after Easter last year, I told my wife, “I missed it!” After all the pressure of resurrection Sunday services had passed, the family dinner was over, the chaos of children’s candy hunts had been cleaned up, and everyone else went back to work, I sank onto the couch with worse-than-ever Monday morning blues. I missed it. The feeling was pervasive; I had served everyone else, but I hadn’t slowed down long enough to watch over my own soul and remember the importance of Easter personally (Acts 20:28). I resolved that day that I would never let that happen again. 

In this article, we’ll explore the tender balance between our pastoral duties during Easter and the resurrection narrative crucial to our spiritual growth. We’ll touch on the reasons Easter can bring stress to pastors and provide action steps to reclaim the season’s significance. After all, the miracle of Easter must touch us first before we can effectively share its power with others. 

Reconciling Professional Obligations with Personal Devotion

As pastors, we’re in the unique position of experiencing Easter both as worship leaders and as individuals. The paradox lies in our ability to reconcile the weight of the preaching and pastoral duties with the depth of our devotion. The reality is that Easter often becomes a production for us, overshadowing the personal joy that comes from celebrating Christ’s resurrection. We cannot forsake the call to lead others through the Easter season, but we must prioritize our own walk with Christ. We do this by ensuring that we celebrate the power of Jesus Christ’s resurrection for us as needy sinners before we preach it boldly as hope to others. 

Making Easter Personal First

We must consciously make Easter a personal matter to avoid inadvertently turning it into just another significant event on the church calendar. We must take moments to disconnect from the professional side of Easter preparations to engage in personal study, prayer, and experiences that renew our connection to the Savior’s acts of justification.

This year, I decided to pray for at least ten minutes every day of Lent, focusing solely on Christ’s justifying and redeeming work. I put on some instrumental worship, pull out an old Puritan prayer book if needed (or a devotional on Lent), and crack my Bible open to critical passages on the resurrection that I then pray through. This has been immensely helpful in personalizing the power of the resurrection as I journey through this season. 

Other Practical Ways to Alleviate the Pastoral Pressure 

The stress we feel during Easter doesn’t have to be the lasting memory we take away from this holy season. Here are some other practical tips to lessen the pressures we feel during Easter preparations:

(1) Keep Your Personal Disciplines: Amidst the chaos, guard your time of personal devotions. Whether it’s a morning prayer or a quiet evening meditation, these moments are sacred and necessary. I wake up daily with a list of things I must do—but before I do any of those tasks, I ensure that my time with the Lord is first. Of all seasons on the church calendar, this one cannot afford to have me relapsing in personal spiritual disciplines. 

(2) Nourish Your Body: Our spiritual and physical health are more intertwined than we often realize. Eating well and exercising can help you to think and pray clearly during these times. Taking care of your body is not selfish; you must be at your best for the glory of Christ (1 Cor. 10:31). 

(3) Let Some Things Wait: One mistake I’ve made is trying to keep carrying out all the regular duties of my life while carrying the extra load during Easter. Remember, some things can wait. Be willing to say, “I would love to get to that, but it needs to wait until after Easter. I am trying to be diligent not to overload my schedule in this vital season.”

(4) Share the Load: Don’t carry the weight of Easter alone. Delegating tasks effectively and empowering others lightens your burden and creates opportunities for growth within your community. I find that our people are even more willing to help with church tasks around Easter than usual, and it becomes their spiritual act of worship to serve Christ by serving His people. 

(5) Celebrate Easter Personally: Take the time to celebrate before leading celebrations. Read the Scriptures, pray with intent, and reflect on the gift of Easter. When you personally find the season uplifting, your whole congregation will feel the authentic joy you bring to the holiday.

Conclusion: Your Identity Beyond the Pulpit

Remember, above all else, you are a child of God before you are a pastor. You have the privilege of partaking in the jubilation of Easter on a personal level, devoid of any professional obligation. Don’t miss the wondrous joy of Easter in your own life as you serve others.

In preparing for this Easter season, know that you minister from the abundance of your spiritual growth. No tyranny of the urgent, no shadow of obligation, can steal the beauty of Easter from you. Reclaim it—and through your authenticity, lead others to do the same. Let us embrace the reflective, authentic, and deeply personal tone of Easter as we guide our congregations and ourselves through the most sacred week. Happy Easter! 

©2024 Josh Weidmann. Used with permission.