How to Establish Rest After Easter

The ministry marathon

Recently, I ran my first marathon. And by “first marathon”, I mean “the one and only marathon I will ever run.” From my observation, some people seemed almost to glide through the race. They look strong throughout and crossing the finish line with graceful, gliding strides. It is safe to say that that was not my experience of running a bit over twenty-six miles without stopping. Before I started training, I had never run more than six or seven miles at one time. I do not have a body type that one would naturally associate with long-distance running. I also generally think that pain is a good indication that it’s time to stop doing whatever it is that you’re doing. When I finally crossed the finish line of the race, the vibes I gave off were less “graceful antelope” and more “man carrying an invisible refrigerator”.

For some pastors, Easter Sunday can feel like the finish line of a grueling race. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services, a sunrise Sunday gathering in a public place (maybe with a pancake breakfast to follow?), extra services to accommodate visitors – all of these require planning, preparation, energy, and leadership to run smoothly. A pastor could be forgiven if he hits the week after Easter feeling spent and tired.

Faithful weariness

Now, being tired can be a sign of a faithful ministry. The church of the Lord Jesus is precious, and the task to which we are called is urgent. It’s hard to imagine a better way to invest your strength. This high calling meant that Paul “did not cease night or day” (Acts 20:31). He “worked harder than all” (I Corinthians 15:10), he urged Timothy to do his best (II Timothy 2:15). And he spoke of those who “labor” in the ministry of the word (I Timothy 1:17). The work of a pastor demands a man’s time, effort, and emotional energy – perhaps particularly at the Easter season. It’s no wonder that many shepherds are weary this time of year.

But Christian leadership should not be characterized by unending toil and personal exhaustion. Scripture does commend hard work, but that’s not the whole story. It also enjoins God’s people to rest, and pastors are no exceptions. When the disciples returned to Jesus with reports of their work in ministry, we read that He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat (Mark 6:31).

Jesus understood that the need for rest is hard-wired into humanity. People were not created to be machines that run without ceasing. Even before the Fall, Adam slept in paradise (Genesis 2:21). For this reason, Jesus (the perfect man), frequently withdrew from the pressures of ministry in order to pray in solitude (Luke 5:16). If the Lord and His disciples took time to recharge and commune with the Father, it seems obvious that we ought to do so as well. If that’s the case, then why might pastors be reluctant to pause from their busy schedules?

Threats to a pastor’s rest

Here are a few threats to a pastor’s rest, see if any of them might apply to you:

Pride

If it had pleased Him, God could have made you able to work unendingly without a break. But He alone is the one who does not sleep or slumber but watches vigilantly over His people (Psalm 121:4). Your God-given need for rest is a reminder that He unceasingly watches over His church, not you. If you forget this truth and begin to think that the health and security of your church depends on you, you will find it hard to take a break.

Fear of man

Many pastors find it hard to rest because they are worried that their people will criticize them or think that they are being lazy. Many congregants have little to no idea about the day to day demands of church ministry. So, pastors feel pressure to make sure that they are seen by others as sacrificially hard-working. That can make rest feel like a luxury that they cannot afford. But we must remember that our work is first and foremost done for the Lord. He is the one that we aim to please.

Flawed ministry models

At the risk of committing American Evangelical heresy: are we sure that our churches need to be running all these programs and putting on all these events? The church is meant to be a family, a loving community of people worshipping the Lord Jesus and declaring his gospel. That doesn’t require too many complicated programs. In the church, “success” is measured in terms of worship, maturity, and conformity to Christ. In such an environment, a pastor can work and rest in confidence that the Spirit of God will grow the church through the proclamation of the word of God. Perhaps your church and ministry has drifted into acting more as a purveyor of religious goods and services. If you measure success in terms of attendance, programs, and budgets, you’re probably going to want to wear yourself out to achieve your goals.

Going it alone

The normal pattern in the New Testament is ministry undertaken by teams of people rather than individuals (e.g., Mark 6:7, Acts 13:2, Titus 1:5). It is true that some men are called to serve in contexts where there are no other men who meet the Biblical qualifications to serve as pastors (I Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9). However, that is probably not the case for most. Building a team that can share the load of ministry requires that we be willing to relinquish some control and trust that the Lord will work through other men as well as ourselves. It also demands that we invest time and energy into training, equipping, and deploying co-laborers. Failure to doso, either through inattention or through a desire to maintain control, will make it difficult to rest.

Ways of rest

I am convinced that regular times of rest are essential to longevity and spiritual health for pastors. If we would serve our churches well over an extended period of time, we cannot run with our engines constantly in the red. In fact, seasons of rest and refreshment in the Lord can help us to serve the church with renewed joy, power, and zeal. So, here are a few ideas that might help you rest more in the ministry:

Take a (real) day off every week

Identify one day a week and set it aside for rest. Put your phone in a drawer (I promise that the church will survive without you for a day). Get some sleep, spend time with your family, and do something enjoyable. Linger over a cup of coffee and your Bible. Pray without a time constraint. Go for a walk. Enjoy the God who does not need you to be productive.

Set aside daily time for communion with the Lord

Our souls rest in the Lord. So, every day should include time to rest ourselves in the love of our heavenly Father. Read the word, worship, and pray without thinking about your upcoming sermon.

Consider a sabbatical

Many churches provide for a prolonged season of rest for their pastors after years of service. If you’re going to run a marathon, you’re going to have to hit the water stations along the way. If you’re in a NASCAR race, you’re going to have to stop for tire changes. It might seem counter-productive in the moment, but it’s essential to your longevity. Pastoral ministry affords few breaks; if you’re going to pastor for decades, you’re probably going to benefit greatly from an extended season to rest, reflect, pray, and plan for the future.

Get some exercise

We are physical creatures. As such, our health and the fitness of our bodies greatly impacts our sense of well-being. Physical exercise can be a great way to relieve stress and promote deep sleep. As counter-intuitive as it may seem, physical exertion can be a great source of rest!

Find your identity in being a sheep, not a shepherd

Being a pastor can be odd. You are called upon to shepherd God’s flock (I Peter 5:2) under the guidance of the Chief Shepherd (I Peter 5:4). But our role as shepherd is a temporary one. You will retire, or die, or Jesus will return (again, I Peter 5:4) and your services will no longer be needed. In order to rest, you need to remember that being a pastor simply isn’t the most important thing about you; in fact, you could quit today and Christ’s church would continue unhampered on its path to glory! And so we must always remember (and rest in!) the truth that we are first and foremost Christ’s sheep, saved by his blood and led by his Spirit.

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