Burnout Is Real...But It Did NOT Happen To Me.

 Burnout can happen not just in ministry. We can get burned out from all types of ministry positions, jobs, volunteering - and lets be honest...sometimes we can get burned out from parenting or marriage (ha!). I think burnout looks different for everyone because everyone has varying degrees of burning out. Sometimes it'll lead to quitting a job, quitting a career, and heartbreakingly - sometimes - quitting a family or a marriage. 

But we do not have to give into burnout. We do need to do what is healthiest for ourselves. But A LOT of prayer needs to go into that. And not everyone is going to understand and know what your reasons are if you need to take a step back or away from something. So, let's get into it. 

I have heard around the rumor block that some have said I should have have stepped down before I burned out. 

Burnout in ministry typically looks like this: 

- Stress

- Depression

- Insufficient sleep and rest

- Spiritual dryness

- Feelings of isolation

- Susceptibility to temptation 

- Disengaged and lack of love with those your serve

- Irritability 

- Anxiety/Worry

- Overwhelmed 


I could go on and on and on. It's very similar for any type of burnout. And I have to tell you - so you know - I did experience some of these "symptoms" of burnout. But, I also have to tell you - I stepped away before I was truly "burned out". I didn't want to walk away from ministry all-together. I always knew that I would want to get back to what God has called me to do. So, when I saw the signs I decided it was time to step away for a season of rest - which is what my first blog post was about. But, I am still a pastor and still called to do ministry. 

So. To clear any misunderstandings up now - I am not burned out. Was I burning out - probably. But, I stopped things and took a break before it got to the point where I couldn't go back into ministry. I stopped knowing that God would be clear with me when the time was right to go back. Again, I do want to take the opportunity to apologize to anyone who might have been hurt by my struggles towards the end there. I probably should have taken a break a little sooner. Please know that I have love for all that I have worked with and all that I have served at both the most recent churches I have served at. 

Let's talk about rest. Just for a second before I wrap this up with a Holy Spirit story. In the Nazarene church, perhaps in other denominations too (I am not sure), pastors will get a "sabbatical" if they have been serving a long enough time and typically if they are the lead pastor of a congregation. I have served alongside several pastors whom have gotten a sabbatical - a season rest and rejuvenation. It's typically 2-3 months. I think it's a beautiful thing that we have, as a church, really missed the mark on. From my experience one would have to serve in the same church for an extended amount of time before they can get a sabbatical. I think we would see a lot less burnout in ministry if we gave seasons of rest a little differently. Perhaps it's not 2-3 months. Perhaps its if you've been serving for 8-10 years you can ask for one. I know that can be tricky. You wouldn't want to get on staff of a church for 1 year after serving 8 years at another church and immediately ask for one. But, I think rest should be more prevalent than it is now for our pastors. Perhaps if we just were able to be vulnerable enough to speak up and say - "I need rest before I burnout. I love this church family and I don't want to leave them all together. I need some time away to work on my spiritual, physical, mental health so I can come back renewed and ready to go for another 5-10 years." 


I have served in ministry for about 14 years. I have lived in Idaho, Oregon, and Washington serving the Lord and my husband and family have followed me wherever we felt the Lord leading us. I have had 3 kids...and trust me when I say being a woman in ministry with kids is usually vastly harder and different than men in ministry with kids. I have had positions that have stretched me in some ways that were good and some ways that was challenging. I have dealt with a new reality of anxiety that I never really had before. I could go on and on, but I don't need to get into the specifics for me to just say - I needed a season of rest and I wish that it didn't happen the way that it did. But I am so glad I did it. 

Because in just 5 short months the Lord has grown me, deepened my walk with Him, filled me with the Holy Spirit, healed me in ways that I didn't know were even possible. I have never been more in tune with the Holy Spirit and His leading in my life than I am right now. Several weeks ago I was driving around - side hustling for Walmart delivering groceries - and I was listening to worship music. I was praying about what is next in ministry and if I was truly ready for what is to come. I didn't want to take on anything too soon. As I was praying I felt, physically, the Holy Spirit probably for the very first time. Now, the Holy Spirit has talked to me through scripture, through others, through visions, but I don't believe that I have physically felt the Holy Spirit before. It was honestly almost an out of body experience. I couldn't really explain it fully, but that I had chills/tingling all through my body and tears immediately flowed and I could just simply feel the Holy Spirit speaking to me. Telling me that it is okay and time to move forward with what is next in ministry. 


I can't go into everything of what is possibly to come right now. But, I can tell you with absolute certainty that I am excited, ready, and thriving as I get ready for what is next. I am passionate, prayerful, and at peace about what is to come. God is working. The Holy Spirit is moving. 


If you have ever dealt with burnout, or close to it - or if you are dealing with it now...take the season of rest and intentionality with the Lord and your family whatever that looks like for you. It's worth it. God will work. 


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