Ministry is a marathon–not a 50-yard dash. It’s tough. You’re in an invisible war where all kinds of forces are conspiring to keep you from doing what God wants you to do.
A few years back I made a list of young pastors in America that I needed to be praying for—like others had prayed for me when I was young. Today, more than half of the young pastors on that list are no longer in ministry—either they had financial problems, marital problems, or just got tired and gave up.
Pastor, we need for you to last in ministry.
The story of Elijah’s ministry burnout in Kings 19 gives us some great insights into the cause and cures of our own burnout.
No doubt you’re familiar with the story. Elijah had challenged the 400 prophets of Baal to prove who was real: Baal or God. And, of course, God won the contest! Everyone in the nation turned back to God.
You’d think Elijah would be on a high after that. But he wasn’t. Ministry successes can drain you just as fast as ministry failures. When Queen Jezebel heard about what happened, she threatened Elijah’s life. Rather than being emboldened by this great ministry success and the revival of the nation, Elijah got so scared he ran to the other side of the desert, hid in a cave and asked God to kill him.
Elijah’s story gives us four signs of ministry burnout.
1. We depreciate our worth.
“Take my life for I’m not better than my fathers” (1 Kings 19:4 HCSB). Like Elijah, when we start telling ourselves we have no value, it’s a sign we’re burned out. Notice how Elijah compares himself with others. When you start comparing your accomplishments, your talents, or even your pain or problems with others, you’re headed down the wrong road.
You are your own worst critic. If you talked to other people in the same way you talk to yourself, you wouldn’t have any friends.
2. We underrate our ministry.
“Lord God Almighty, I have always served you—you alone. But the people of Israel have broken their covenant with you, torn down your altars, and killed all your prophets. I am the only one left—and they are trying to kill me!” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). Elijah starts berating himself for things that aren’t his fault. The nation of Israel was crumbling around him, and Elijah took it personally.
Trying to control everything—as if you’re holding your church together by yourself—will have disastrous results. Truth is, it’s not up to you to make the world work. God never intended for you to carry that kind of burden. You’re not responsible for anyone else’s response. You’re responsible for proclaiming the truth and leading people the best you can—but not the responses of others. You are only responsible for your own response. You’re responsible to teach God’s truth but not what they do with it.
3. We exaggerate our problems.
“I am the only one left—and they are trying to kill me!” (1 Kings 19:10 NIV). Elijah said he was the only one left trying to do what was right, but that just wasn’t true. The nation had just experienced a revival, but Elijah’s view was distorted.
Never make a major decision when you’re depressed, discouraged, or tired. It’ll be the wrong decision! When you’re on empty, you inevitably don’t have a clear view of reality. Elijah was so drained from being in the midst of a spiritual high that he couldn’t see the situation clearly. The whole nation wasn’t against him. It was one woman who made an empty promise!
Dig into God’s Word. You can’t focus on your emotions. The Bible doesn’t say that your emotions will set you free. It says the Truth will set you free. The more you know the truth, the freer you will be.
4. We abdicate our dreams.
“’I have had enough, Lord,’ he said. ‘Take my life’” (1 Kings 19:4). When you get depleted of energy, you start shrinking your dreams to the size of your remaining energy. You lose your vision and forfeit your goals. This is the most destructive sign of burnout because when you lose your dreams, you lose hope. You want to give up.
Don’t you dare give up. Don’t give up on your family, on your church, on your dream or on your life.
Fortunately, the Bible doesn’t just tell us the causes of burnout. It tells us the cures as well! To get out of burnout and back on the road to recovery, you need to do the four things that Elijah did in this story.
- Recharge. (1 Kings 19:5-8) God’s first prescription for Elijah’s burnout isn’t a sermon, confession or a lecture. He lets him eat and sleep. You need this, too. Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is take a nap. Vince Lombardi once said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” You need a day off. In fact, if you’re not taking a day off every week, you’re breaking one of the 10 commandments.
- Release your frustrations. (1 Kings 19:9-19) God can handle your frustrations. When you take it to other people, that’s gossip. When you take it to God, that’s worship. Complaining to God can be an act of worship because you’re telling God you trust Him with your feelings. Twice during this passage God encourages Elijah to tell Him what’s on his heart. God isn’t shocked when you complain. If you’re feeling down and depressed, tell it to God. It also helps to tell at least one other person. You need a spiritual confidant or a small group where you can unload.
- Refocus on God. (1 Kings 19:11) Get your eyes off of your problem and onto God. Get alone with Him. God loved Elijah so much he sent a multi-media presentation to Him. He sent a hurricane wind, an earthquake, and a firestorm—until God finally spoke through a soft whisper. God showed his power and lets him know that He is in control. You need to relax. The root of all of your burnout is trying to be God. Whenever I start getting burned out, I get alone with God and focus on Him instead of my problems.
- Resume serving others. (1 Kings 19:15-16) God gave Elijah a new assignment. He wasn’t done with him. And he isn’t done with you either. You’ve got to start thinking of someone other than yourself. The quickest way to defeat depression is to get involved in helping other people.
Some days you may not feel like getting out of bed. If you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, follow these steps. This is God’s recovery plan.
I burned out 7 years ago. Got to the point I’d just walk away from anyone who approached me with a problem. I’d hide from people, not being able to face another ‘issue’. Our church was thriving. We had led it through some challenging changes, planted a daughter church, and all was good. But I bottomed out, bured out – could not cope with church, with people, with life. I took a month off and tried to recharge. After a few months of struggling, I took another month off and tried again. The downward spiral continued. Depression, self-doubt, guilt, thoughts of suicide.
I left the ministry for 2 years, returning to my pre-clergy career, then suffered a heart attack – almost died. I was laid off, felt the Lord’s call to return to ministry and did so, thinking by now I should be okay. God blessed us with a lot of growth, many saved, a dying church re-envigorated. But I could not face/handle problems and challenges. The burnout resurfaced. Depression returned. Now, I’m back in a secular career, serving as a lay preacher. Still can’t face challenge, opposition, conflict. Still want to run and hide.
I know it’s not about me. I know without Him I have nothing to offer. I know He fights my battles for me and that all good gifts come from Him. I know it’s His work, His flock, His problems. But I can’t seem to “un-burn”.
Is there hope? Is there healing? Or shall I just graciously, thankfully accept the reality of ministerial “retirement”? The guilt is great.
This came just at the right time. I’ve been battling with the feelings of not being good enough and not getting the results in my ministry. I was on the verge of giving up but thanks for this.
God bless you Pastor Rick
this is what i endure today,3 days l stay home to think about me and the ministry,l ask if God told me to foud a church? because of debt to pay by month the church local,l search for affilliation but nothing,and l am confuse but today l know that God send a menthor on my way to hold me up,[email protected]
Great insight Pastor Rick!
thanks God for this mesage thanks Rick i realy neded it
Pastor Rick: I just printed out your article for my husband. I see the signs of burn-out in him. I sense he is standing in front of a fork in the road, either going back to work full time or weathering the storm until his breakthrough comes. I believe in my heart that your article is the beginning of his breakthrough. God used you to provide a plan for pastors, like my husband, that is simple yet rich with gold nuggests! Our church is doing great, but at a price, and that is what he is experiencing. Like you wrote, “Ministry sucess can drain you as fast as failures.” I know he will come out of this, especially now that we have a plan. Gracias!
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom and practical application Pastor Rick . . . you continue to bless so many in the ministry!
Unfortunately, I am not as confident as you when you state that we are needed. It seems there are so many others who don’t seem to value our calling nor our committment to the call as much as you. Thanks for your support.
As a Pastor to pastors here in South America, I have translated this article and shared with our pastors. It is one of the best articles that I have read on the subject. Thanks.
Thanks Pastor Rick. What you shared really helped me personally
Ted
Wow, just in the right moment.
Thank you!
this is powerful
Thanks Rick for reminding us of this. Years ago, at a Small Groups Conference at Saddleback, Lance Witt quoted from Gal 6:9, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” With tears in my eyes, I decided that God was not finished with me yet. I eventually left that church position and moved on to an even more fruitful assignment. Ministry can definitely wear you out, unless you are able to keep a divine perspective. Thank God for His constant reminder that we are on the right track!
Thank you Rick. I’m hardly young. But I really needed that today!
Thank You Pastor Rick for allowing the Holy Spirit to use you, You have saved my ministry, and myself as well, I will pray that you continue encouraging the young Pastors like myself we do need Pastor’s like you who cares and watching for us, thanks again and May God Bless you. Pastor Bradshaw
“Second Wind” is an excellent offering we provide at Green Lake Conference Center http://www.sw.glcc.org Let me know if I may be of help. Dave Gallagher
Our ministry, our problems, our dreams….If it’s our ministry, then it’s our problem. If it is God’s baby, then the weight is on His shoulders.
Elijah started out his ministry saying, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand….”
He was focused on the God of Israel. God’s will and honor was THE issue. Somewhere along the way Elijah listened to the people and became “the issue” in his own eyes.
People will try to make you the issue. “Is that you Elijah, you troubler of Israel?”
Just don’t allow you to become the issue in your own mind! God is the issue. Christ is the gospel. We have received this ministry as we recieved grace….it is not merited and it is not ours. It is a stewardship lent to us, but belonging to our Master.
WOW I wish i had it as together as you sound you do brother…
I appreciate the encouragement. I’ve spent a few years with Elijah in the cave of unrealized expectations. To come out of there and finish your God-ordained assignment requires getting your eyes off of the results or lack of results and getting back to doing exactly what God tells you. Nothing more. Nothing less!
Thanks for sharing brotherman… I’m always wanting to learn and grow as a pastor. But, sometimes it is hard for me to know exactly what to do… Yes i have His Word, His Spirit, His Calling, but there are times i don’t know what to do but something needs to be done… and i don’t see what the nothing more is and nothing less is… and when that happens I can just do one thing and that is love, love and love so more and when i hit that wall… I get up, shake my head and brush my self off, ask God to forgive me for not seing the nothing mores and the nothing less’s and get back to what God has called me to do… inspite of me feeling sorry for myself… I wish I knew exactly what God was telling me to do… all the time… You are in my prayers, loved and appreciated… Thanks for letting me share..
Sooo true !
Hi Pastor Rick – thank you so much for this excellent, and timely, advice.
thank you so much,these are perfect restoration plan for us ministers who are always in the process of burning out and yet no one cares to tell when to slow down and recharged, i am glad i ran into this material now, and i want to subscribe to this materials so that i will be on the list ,thank you again so much pastor Rick, you have added spices to my day
pastor kingsley diala
Hi pastor Rick. Thank you so much for praying for us as the young pastors. I would like to also thank you for the outlined steps to overcome discouragement. God bless you and your family always.
thank you pastor rick. it’s very practical when written out.