Why is it church leaders so often run themselves into the ground? Why, if you hang around a church for very long, will you consistently hear words like "burnout" and "overwork" linked to people who work for the church? Why is that?
Yesterday, my nine-year-old son asked me, while we were driving, "Mom, does the church ever close?" Deep ponderings from a precocious child? After a few more probing questions, we determined he was really asking whether or not the church ever takes breaks from weekend services. "No," came my obvious answer, "the church is always open."
And it's true. In one way or another the church is always open. Sunday is always coming. Someone is always in need. Ministry happens 24/7. So, is this perpetual state of church availability what leads to our burnout dilemma? Perhaps. But more likely, our overwork comes because we, the leaders, staff members and key volunteers of the church, are "always open". We make ourselves available to those in need no matter the time of day. We push aside personal plans to go out of our way for others. We give to others unselfishly. We are ministers in the church.
But what happens if in our best effort to minister to others, we forget to minister to ourselves? Or worse, what goes down when we won't allow ourselves to be ministered to? Here come those ugly words..."burnout" and "overwork". I've been there. And it really doesn't feel good.
So, maybe you're reading this knowing that you're one of those church people who is open 24/7. Let's get real about your internal health:
You're heard this advice before, haven't you? This is disappointing and completely unhelpful information, you're thinking? Yet, let's be real. But by the grace of God, you cannot help anyone if you are unhealthy yourself (physically, emotionally, intellectually or spiritually). You cannot lead others where you have not gone. Sometimes the best way you can help others is to put your own needs on the top of today's to-do list and problem solve a way to meet them. If ministry to others truly matters to you, you must take care of yourself.
The way to tackle burnout is with more work: self-work.
Sometimes the most difficult words to say are, "I need help." Especially for those who lead in the church. Believe me, I know. I am a master of helping others and neglecting to care for myself. Yet, letting a trusted friend or colleague help you find health will change your life for the better. And instead of them thinking less of you, they're likely think more of your leadership, because good self-leadership will allow the rest to follow.
(By the way, self-work probably means you'll need to take a few other things off the list. But cross that bridge when you come to it. Start by asking for help.)
Yesterday, my nine-year-old son asked me, while we were driving, "Mom, does the church ever close?" Deep ponderings from a precocious child? After a few more probing questions, we determined he was really asking whether or not the church ever takes breaks from weekend services. "No," came my obvious answer, "the church is always open."
And it's true. In one way or another the church is always open. Sunday is always coming. Someone is always in need. Ministry happens 24/7. So, is this perpetual state of church availability what leads to our burnout dilemma? Perhaps. But more likely, our overwork comes because we, the leaders, staff members and key volunteers of the church, are "always open". We make ourselves available to those in need no matter the time of day. We push aside personal plans to go out of our way for others. We give to others unselfishly. We are ministers in the church.
But what happens if in our best effort to minister to others, we forget to minister to ourselves? Or worse, what goes down when we won't allow ourselves to be ministered to? Here come those ugly words..."burnout" and "overwork". I've been there. And it really doesn't feel good.
So, maybe you're reading this knowing that you're one of those church people who is open 24/7. Let's get real about your internal health:
- When you're so concerned with the interests of others that you forget to put yourself on the list, you have a problem.
- When you help everyone else and refuse to be helped yourself, you're in trouble.
- When you're selflessly serving to support the needs of others when those same needs are going unmet in your life, you're in way over your head.
You're heard this advice before, haven't you? This is disappointing and completely unhelpful information, you're thinking? Yet, let's be real. But by the grace of God, you cannot help anyone if you are unhealthy yourself (physically, emotionally, intellectually or spiritually). You cannot lead others where you have not gone. Sometimes the best way you can help others is to put your own needs on the top of today's to-do list and problem solve a way to meet them. If ministry to others truly matters to you, you must take care of yourself.
The way to tackle burnout is with more work: self-work.
Sometimes the most difficult words to say are, "I need help." Especially for those who lead in the church. Believe me, I know. I am a master of helping others and neglecting to care for myself. Yet, letting a trusted friend or colleague help you find health will change your life for the better. And instead of them thinking less of you, they're likely think more of your leadership, because good self-leadership will allow the rest to follow.
(By the way, self-work probably means you'll need to take a few other things off the list. But cross that bridge when you come to it. Start by asking for help.)
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