A Hidden Weight: Stress in Ministry

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair.” 2 Corinthians 4:7–8 (ESV)

Make no mistake about it... both pastors and ministry leaders carry a specific kind of weight, often unseen by the people under their care.  There’s the weight of teaching and preaching God’s Word, shepherding those who hurt and need direction, managing the unexpected, and even navigating complex and difficult relationships in the church.  And when you add the growing tensions of cultural and political shifts, financial difficulties, and the self-imposed pressure to meet others' expectations, it’s no wonder many pastors live on the brink of exhaustion and despair.  

A UNIQUE KIND OF STRESS

One reason ministry stress is unique is that it combines the emotional, spiritual, and relational dimensions of life.  When you work in the ministry, your “job” is your calling, your community, and often the social world for your family.  The lines between “work” and “life” are often completely blurred.  Whenever a minister has a difficult meeting on Sunday night, the stench of the meeting lingers in your spirit all week.  A struggling marriage in your church certainly weighs on your heart, even long after the conversation ends.  Unlike many other professions, it’s just not easy to “leave ministry at the office” when you leave to go home.

THE WAR WITHIN

Pastors and ministry leaders also wrestle with an internal voice that nags us with the whisper, “You should be doing better.”  Whenever stress builds up, it’s easy for us to feel guilty about feeling weary.  Let’s face it, shouldn’t spiritual leaders be strong enough, and faithful enough, or even prayerful enough to rise above stress?  But don’t forget the Apostle Paul reminds us that we are “jars of clay.”  We can be fragile and limited, and must learn to be deeply dependent on God’s sustaining grace.  Please understand, acknowledging our limits is not weakness; it’s actually wisdom.  It’s the beginning step towards managing stress in a Christ-centered way.

AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

Think about the life of Jesus for a moment.  Our Savior modeled this rhythm of awareness and rest for His followers.  In Mark 6:31, after a demanding stretch of ministering towards others, He told His disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”  Jesus clearly recognized that ministry can drain the body and the soul, and He made space and time for recovery.  If Jesus, the Son of God, recognized that rest was necessary, certainly His servants should too.  Ministry stress can become extremely dangerous whenever we ignore its presence and attempt to press through in our own strength.

Here is some really good news!  God never called us to carry the weight of ministry alone!  Our Heavenly Father faithfully provides His presence and sustaining grace for each season of life. So whenever we muster up the strength and faith to bring our frustrations, our fears, and even our weariness before Him, we find “His yoke truly is easy, and His burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).

A POINT TO PONDER

Recognizing that the responsibilities of ministry are heavy isn’t a sign of failure or weakness; it’s a sign of honesty.  Pastors and leaders must take the time to identify and name the pressures they face before they will be able to manage them effectively.  So, take time this week to ask yourself: Where am I feeling the most pressure right now? Then ask yourself this question: What would it look like to invite God into that specific area of stress?  Remember, you are not called by God to be invincible; you are called to be faithful.  And faithfulness begins by trusting God to carry what you were never intended to shoulder alone… STRESS!

Blessings,

Will