Walking Through Burnout: Encouragement for Weary Pastors

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Let’s be honest—ministry can be exhausting. This exhaustion is more than physical; it extends deep into your soul. Maybe you feel stretched thin emotionally, or generally drained, like you’re running on empty. Over time this weariness can cause burnout to arrive suddenly, causing a cascade of brokenness and pain.

More often, though, it creeps in suddenly like a thief who has long studied the unguarded places of your heart, waiting for the right moment to act. Burnout is like the incessant dripping of a cracked faucet. We know it’s there, and it’s an issue, but we get used to it over time. We think it’s easier to ignore than to face.

So, you keep going. You push on, convincing yourself that the congregation’s needs and the mission’s urgency means that now isn’t the time to slow down.

The problem is we too often never make time to slow down until something forces us to do so. But friend, note this: confusing your calling for adrenaline won’t sustain you for the long journey of ministry.

Ministry isn’t a sprint—it’s a long road of faithful obedience (1 Corinthians 9:24-27). And if we’re going to continue serving the people God has entrusted to us, we need to walk with wisdom and humility, especially when weariness starts knocking at our door.

An Invitation to Pace Yourself

I understand the temptation to run in overdrive, to respond to pressure by pushing harder, becoming more productive, more intense, more driven. But that’s not sustainable. I was reminded of this recently when my Dad’s health turned for the worse in a very busy season of ministry. Going to spend time with my Dad and family in his final days, walking through his funeral, saying goodbye, these all took priority in my schedule. It made space for reflection on what matters most. Sometimes we need a reset and losing someone you love can provide that reminder.

You can only run on momentum or willpower for so long. Eventually, momentum fades. Willpower is a limited resource we can easily overestimate. We need Sabbath to balance our drive toward progress and growth.

Sometimes, what you truly need is not a new challenge; you simply need rest. You need healthy rhythms. You need a pace that allows for longevity, not just survival. Ministry is a marathon, and the goal isn’t just to finish—it’s to finish well (2 Timothy 4:7), alongside the people God has given you, not ahead of them or, worse, sidelined by exhaustion.

One of the marks of an over-inflated sense of self-importance is the refusal to observe Sabbath and take seriously the need for seasons of rest (Ezekiel 20:13). Your calling is from God, the God who rested after six days of creation (Genesis 2:1-3). The God who calls us to remember the Sabbath day, to keep in our lives weekly time of rest, to worship, and to get off the Ferris Wheel of busyness (Exodus 20:8-11; Hebrews 4:9).

Don’t Rush Through the Pain

Too often, pastors try to rush through pain—their own and that of others. Whether it’s congregational disappointment, a leadership challenge, or personal discouragement, there’s a tendency to push through, to spiritualize the struggle, and move on. We can’t microwave grief, and we can’t point and click our way to joy in hard seasons. Lament is a theme in Scripture as is joy; there is a time for both (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

But true shepherding is about walking through pain with people, not bypassing it (Romans 12:15). This includes hurting with your people and within yourself (John 11:33-35). You are allowed to grieve, to lament, to acknowledge what has been lost or broken. Growth is great and progress is pleasing, but lament can provide a life-giving perspective as well, because we know our actual lives are not an Instagram highlight real, but are comprised of victories and challenges, passionate worship and honest struggles.

Let your congregation process change at their own pace—and extend that same grace to yourself. You don’t have to be “okay” all the time. Pastors experience sorrow, loss, and emotional fatigue just like anyone else. Before you were called to ministry, you were a person.

You still are. Don’t forget that.

You Are Worthy of Receiving Care and Building Margin

Ministry naturally draws givers. You show up in moments of crisis, offering comfort, direction, and support. You pour yourself out for others without hesitation. But here’s the truth: you cannot keep giving without also receiving. If you keep pouring water out of the same pitcher without refilling it, you will run dry very soon.

Your soul needs care. Leave the superheroes to the Marvel and DC movies. You need encouragement, rest, and replenishment. You also need margin to allow for the unintended issues that continually come up in ministry.

Caring for your soul might look like meeting with a counselor, building a circle of trusted friends, or stepping away for a few days, or all of these—without guilt.

Remember, even Jesus took time to retreat to quiet places to be alone and pray (Mark 1:35; Luke 6:12). If the Savior of the world needed that, so do you.

Prioritize What You Truly Need

It’s easy to mistake urgency for importance. The emails, the meetings, the ever-growing to-do list—they all feel pressing. But take a moment and ask yourself: What do I truly need right now?

Do you need sleep? A Sunday off from preaching? A conversation with a trusted friend? A walk outside to breathe in fresh air?

Your well-being is not selfish—it’s strategic. Caring for your soul isn’t just for your sake; it’s for the sake of your congregation, your family, and your future ministry. The people you lead don’t need a burned-out leader just pushing through (1 Peter 5:2). They need a shepherd who is present, healthy, and led by the Spirit.

You Are Not Alone

Here’s the good news: you don’t have to walk this road by yourself. There is a community—mentors, counselors, coaches, fellow leaders—who care deeply about you and want to support you. 

Do you have a pastor friend or group, a mentor, coach, or someone with whom you can talk about your struggles? Are you part of a small group?

Or, more specifically, when is the last time you took a vacation and truly unplugged for a few days?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds like me…” then take that as your nudge. Don’t wait until you hit a breaking point. Reach out. Slow down. Let someone walk with you.

Let’s commit to finishing well—not just by preaching powerful sermons or leading great initiatives, but by being honest, healthy leaders who walk closely with Jesus and serve His people with integrity. And who are aware of our own need.

You are not alone in this. Let’s walk this journey together.

©2025 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.