Building Resilience: 5 Practical Steps for Pastors
As pastors and church leaders, we are often the ones people look to for strength, guidance, and support. But who supports the supporters? Who pastors the pastors?
Our organization provides support for pastors, so I speak with some level of authority when I say – I know many of you are feeling the weight of your responsibilities; the exhaustion that comes from constantly pouring out without enough opportunities to refill. It's not uncommon to feel isolated in your role, burdened by expectations, and yes, burned out. Even the New York Times has noticed this problem in the pulpit.
But there is hope. We can build resilience and find ways to sustain ourselves for the long haul. By prioritizing self-care, cultivating strong relationships, and setting healthy boundaries, we can prevent burnout and continue to serve our congregations effectively. This article will guide you through practical steps to rejuvenate your spirit, strengthen your resolve, and thrive in your ministry. Read on to discover how you can find renewed strength and support in your pastoral journey.
Practical Steps for Pastors to Build Resilience
Burnout in ministry is a growing concern, but there are effective ways to combat it by building resilience in your life. Here are some practical steps you can take to prevent burnout and sustain your energy, passion, and effectiveness in your pastoral role:
1. Prioritize Investing in Yourself
Let's start with a simple yet often neglected concept: self-care. That hyphenated phrase often gets a bad rap, because it has come to be associated with a particular sub-culture, but let’s not throw out the baby with the proverbial bath water. It's easy to forget that we too are humans in need of care, in need of grace, just as much as those we serve. Self-care is not selfish; it's essential. It includes:
Spiritual: Make your personal time with God non-negotiable. Prayer, meditation, and reading scripture for your nourishment (not just sermon prep) are vital.
Intellectual: Engage your mind with activities that stimulate and challenge you, such as reading, taking courses, or exploring new hobbies.
Vocational: Reflect on your calling and ensure that your work aligns with your passions and strengths. Seek opportunities for professional development.
Financial: Manage your finances wisely to reduce stress and increase security. Create a budget, seek financial advice if needed, and practice generosity.
Physical: Ensure you're getting enough sleep, eating well, and engaging in regular exercise. Even a short daily walk can do wonders for your mental and physical health.
General Leadership: Invest in developing your leadership skills through workshops, mentorship, and practical experiences. Strong leadership requires continuous growth.
Emotional: Pay attention to your emotional well-being. Allow yourself to feel and process emotions and seek support from a counselor or trusted friend if needed.
Relational: Nurture relationships with family and friends. Make time for those who uplift and support you, and don't hesitate to lean on them when you need it.
Each of these areas will have a significant impact on your ministry, either positively or negatively. If you are struggling in a particular area, it will weigh on your mind, leave you feeling exhausted, and distract you from giving your best thinking to your ministry. If you are doing well in an area, it frees you of those worries, allowing you to approach your ministry with a clear mind. Below are four tips for helping you experience lasting change in each of them.
2. Evaluate Your Well-Being Regularly
Being intentional about growth in each of these areas is critical to the effectiveness of your work. Not only that, but it is usually a deficiency in one of these areas that overwhelms the others and results in burnout. If you want to be resilient, you must be mindful of your present situation and regularly evaluate the stress level of each one.
I encourage pastors to give a ranking to each area on a monthly basis. It is simple and only requires a couple of minutes, but it is also an effective method for identifying the area you need to focus on. Look at each of the eight areas and score them for you personally on the following five-point scale.
1 - Very Weak: Little to no proficiency.
2 - Weak: Below average proficiency, noticeable struggles.
3 - Average: Adequate proficiency, some struggles but generally capable.
4 - Strong: Above average proficiency, confident and effective.
5 - Very Strong: Exceptional proficiency, a clear strength with high effectiveness.
This should give you an idea of where you need to give your attention for the next few weeks or months. In another post, I’ll share ideas for what to do next. For now, let’s move on.
3. Cultivate Important Relationships
One of the biggest challenges pastors face is isolation. We are surrounded by people but often feel alone. Cultivating healthy, supportive relationships can make a huge difference. To move the needle in any of these eight areas, you’ll need a team of people around you. Some of us can manage on our own for a while, but eventually the pressures of ministry (and our own humanity) will win out and the growth will cease. Here are three elements of a team you need to ensure you remain resilient.
Mentorship: Find a mentor who can offer guidance and wisdom. Someone who has walked the path before you and can provide insight and encouragement.
Peer Support: Build a network of fellow pastors and church leaders who understand your struggles and can offer mutual support. Regularly meet for coffee, prayer, or just to chat. Our cohorts are a great way of doing this.
Accountability: Have a trusted friend or group to whom you can be accountable. This person or group should be able to speak truth into your life and help you stay on track with your personal and professional goals.
4. Set Boundaries for Health and Balance
Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining good health that leads to resiliency. It can be challenging, but it's necessary to avoid burnout. It is often a lack of boundaries that leads us to become deficient in one of these areas. It’s a good idea to take a few minutes and write down some boundaries for each of the eight areas.
Ask self-reflection questions like, What are some lines you don’t want to cross in your spiritual life? Where are you currently not displaying healthy boundaries in your finances? Etc.
Establish clear parameters in all areas and stick to them. Let your congregation know when you are available and when you are not. It’s okay to have off-limits times for your family and your personal development. Learn to say no when necessary. You don't have to attend every meeting or accept every invitation. Prioritize what aligns with your mission and values.
5. Find Joy in Your Ministry Journey
Finally, find joy in the journey. All this work sounds like a lot of… well… work. But it also can be enjoyable. Ministry is challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Celebrate the small victories and cherish the moments of grace. Here are three tips to help you find joy in your growth toward overall resiliency.
Gratitude Practice: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Keep a journal of things you are thankful for and reflect on them regularly.
Embrace Humor: Don’t take yourself too seriously. Laughter is a great stress-reliever. Share a funny story, watch a comedy, or just enjoy a good laugh with friends.
Mindfulness: Practice being present in the moment. Mindfulness can help reduce stress and increase your enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures.
Building Resiliency in Ministry
Remember, resilience is not about being invincible; it's about being adaptable and finding ways to bounce back from challenges. By prioritizing these five principles – investing in yourself, evaluating your well-being, cultivating important relationships, setting healthy boundaries, and finding joy in your ministry journey – you can build the resilience needed to prevent burnout and thrive in ministry.
If you or a pastor you know is struggling with burnout, we’d love to talk. Perhaps you oversee a staff team and want to ensure each member gets the support and guidance they need, our AllyCare program is a powerful, effective, and affordable way to invest in your most valuable resource.
You are not alone in this journey. Our community of pastors and church leaders is here to support you every step of the way. With God’s grace, we can find the strength and renewal to continue our vital work in the Kingdom. Keep pressing on, and know that what you are doing for the Kingdom matters deeply.
Together, we can overcome the challenges of pastoral ministry, ensuring that we remain effective, energized, and fulfilled in our calling. Stay resilient, and let’s support one another as we navigate this rewarding yet demanding path.