When Pastors Are Burned Out (But Don’t Know It)
You’ve probably never heard his name, but his work has touched millions. Bob Pierce wasn’t a megachurch pastor. He didn’t write best-selling books or host global conferences. But his passion for the gospel launched one of the largest Christian humanitarian organizations in history.
If you’ve ever heard of World Vision, you’ve seen the impact of his life. Today, this ministry operates in nearly 100 countries, feeding the hungry, rescuing the suffering, and offering hope to over 150 million people. But behind this incredible legacy lies a sobering story—one that every pastor needs to hear. Because while Bob Pierce changed the world, he lost himself in the process.
Bob Pierce was a force of nature. His friends called him a "man restless to win souls"—a preacher, an evangelist, a humanitarian, and a visionary all wrapped into one. He didn’t just talk about the Great Commission; he embodied it. He once prayed, "God, let my heart be broken for the things that break the heart of God." And God answered. His heart was so burdened for the suffering of the world that he never stopped running.
From refugee camps in Korea to war-torn Vietnam, from the slums of India to the villages of Africa, Bob went wherever the need was greatest. If there was a crisis, he was there. If there was a need, he was running to meet it. He gave everything to the mission. And he did it all for Jesus.
But there was just one problem.
While Bob was saving the world, his own world was falling apart. His wife and children rarely saw him. He was always on the move, always heading to the next urgent ministry assignment. He had convinced himself that if he poured everything into the work of God, God would take care of his family. But his family didn’t need a saviour, they needed a husband and a father.
At one point, one of his daughters, struggling with deep depression, attempted suicide. From the hospital, she called her father and pleaded, "Daddy, please come home." His wife begged him to return. But there was always another crisis. Another need. Another mission trip. Instead of taking the next flight home, Bob boarded a plane to Vietnam to do more ministry.
His daughter survived that attempt, but several years later, she succeeded in taking her own life. Bob had missed his moment to save her. And his marriage didn’t survive either. His wife, broken by years of neglect, could no longer hold on. His anger and exhaustion strained every relationship in his life. The very organization he built, World Vision, eventually forced him to resign.
By the time Bob Pierce realized what had happened, it was too late. The ministry had thrived, but he had lost everything, his family, his health, his peace, his joy. In 1978, Bob Pierce died of leukemia, alone and exhausted. He had spent his entire life pouring himself out for others, but in the end, there was nothing left of him.
He had always said, "Just leave me alone… let me burn out for God!" And that’s exactly what happened.
BURNING OUT IN MINISTRY IS NOT AN ADMIRABLE GOAL
Bob Pierce was a man of great faith and tremendous impact, but burning out in ministry is not an admirable goal. It is not the way of Jesus. Many pastors today, especially in Nigeria, are walking this same dangerous path.
I have seen this firsthand. At our pastoral training center here in Jos and in the many places across Nigeria where we have ministered to pastors, I have observed the same troubling pattern. Pastors are pushing themselves to exhaustion, believing that if they keep answering every call, attending every meeting, and accepting every invitation, God will sustain them. But at what cost? Your health? Your family? their sacrifice is necessary for the work of the gospel.
One moment that still unsettles me happened at a major denominational conference, where a highly respected leader, a name you would instantly recognize, stood on stage before thousands of pastors and reprimanded them for not working hard enough. He told them they should be willing to push themselves to the point of exhaustion at any cost, using his own lack of sleep as an example of what he considered faithful pastoral ministry.
As I listened, I cringed. Was this truly the model of faithfulness that Christ called us to? To wear ourselves down until we are emotionally and physically depleted? To push through exhaustion, ignoring the quiet cries of our own souls? To possibly sacrifice our families on the altar of ministry, all in the name of working for God?
Brothers, this is not faithfulness. This is destruction. And if we do not change course, we will end up just like Bob Pierce, exhausted, broken, and wondering where it all went wrong.
UNLEARNING UNHEALTHY MINISTRY HABITS
Somewhere along the way, many of us have absorbed unhealthy beliefs about ministry. We have learned to push ourselves beyond our limits, convinced that exhaustion is a sign of faithfulness. And without realizing it, we’ve embraced dangerous mindsets that slowly drain our strength and distort our understanding of what it means to serve God well.
I’ve heard pastors and ministry leaders, make statements like:
“I’ll rest when I get to heaven! There’s God’s work to do!” Really? Because Jesus took time to rest, even though He had the most important mission in the history of humanity. In Mark 6:31, when crowds were pressing in and demanding His attention, He turned to His disciples and said, “Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” If Jesus, the Son of God, made time to rest, why do we think we can do without it?
“The devil never rests, so why should I?” Maybe the devil shouldn’t be your role model. I don’t know if you’ve read your Bible, but things don’t and won’t end well for him.
“If I take care of the church, God will take care of my family.” I understand what pastors mean when they say this, but this belief is deeply flawed. It directly contradicts 1 Timothy 5:8, “If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” Your first ministry is your home. Neglecting your family is not an act of faith, it is a failure in leadership.
Pastors, these mindsets aren’t just wrong, they’re dangerous. And I know this because I have seen them play out in real life.
I know of a pastor, one of the most passionate men I have ever met, who literally passed out in the pulpit during a Sunday morning service. The doctors diagnosed him with a serious heart condition caused by stress, and he was advised to slow down. But three weeks later, he was already reaching out to me, asking me to partner with him on a rural ministry initiative. His exact words to me were, “My greatest joy would be to die in the pulpit.”
I listened in disbelief. Brothers, that is not an admirable goal. When Jesus said we should lay our lives down, He wasn’t talking about the foolish mismanagement of our health. Dying for the gospel is one thing. Killing yourself through reckless overwork is another.
WHAT BURNOUT REALLY IS
It’s important to point out here though that burnout isn’t just about working too hard. It’s deeper than that. It’s not just physical exhaustion; it is also emotional and spiritual depletion.
For clarity, let’s define it: Burnout is when a person reaches a state of complete mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion.
Sean Nemecek, in his book The Weary Leader’s Guide to Burnout, describes it this way: "Burnout is what happens when our inner life with God is no longer able to sustain our outer work for God."
This is exactly what is happening in the lives of so many pastors today. We keep pouring and pouring, but we never take the time to be refilled. We are like a petrol station that has run out of fuel, yet there is still a long queue of people waiting in their cars and with their jerry cans, expecting us to deliver something we no longer have.
If this is where you are, you are not alone. And before you assume that only weak, or less spiritual pastors experience burnout, let me remind you:
GODLY MEN IN THE BIBLE EXPERIENCED BURNOUT
Burnout is not a sign of failure. Some of the most powerful leaders in the Bible reached the breaking point.
David: In Psalm 69:3, he cries, “I am weary with my crying; My throat is dry; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.” This is not a man simply having a bad day. This is a man experiencing burnout from both internal struggles and external pressures. Remember, not only did King Saul seek to end his life, but his own son led a coup against him, his enemies cursed and mocked him, and the weight of leadership crushed him.
Moses: Leading over two million Israelites through the wilderness was a humanly impossible burden. In Numbers 11:14-15, he reaches his breaking point and cries out to God, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me, if I have found favor in your eyes, and do not let me face my own ruin.”
Imagine being so overwhelmed that you’d rather die than continue the work. That’s ministry burnout in its rawest form.Or how about Jesus Himself: On the night before His crucifixion, He pled with His closest disciples to stay awake with him and pray for him a bit longer because (in His words), “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.” (Mark 14:34). The weight of what was ahead pressed down so heavily that He sweat drops of blood. If the Son of God Himself experienced a night so heavy that He considered the possibility of not going through with His mission, who are we to act as though we are invincible?
Then of course, there’s Elijah: Perhaps the clearest case of burnout in the Bible. After performing one of the greatest miracles in history, calling fire down from heaven, proving God’s power over Baal, and leading a massive spiritual revival, he collapsed in exhaustion. The very next chapter, in 1 Kings 19:4, we see him running into the wilderness and praying, “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
My point? Burnout in pastoral ministry is very real. It is not just a modern issue; it is something even the godliest leaders have faced.
If these great men of God struggled with exhaustion, discouragement, and spiritual depletion, we need to ask ourselves: What can we learn from them? And this is where I want us to take a closer look at one of the most revealing cases of burnout in Scripture, the prophet Elijah. His journey in 1 Kings 17–19 provides a powerful roadmap for understanding burnout, how it happens, and how God restores His servants.
MEET ELIJAH: THE MAN ON FIRE
From the moment Elijah steps onto the biblical stage, his life is a series of high-intensity ministry encounters, each more dramatic than the last. He isn’t introduced with a quiet backstory or a gradual rise to influence. No. He just appears suddenly, stepping out of obscurity into the heart of a national crisis.
Elijah first emerges in 1 Kings 17 from a place so insignificant that it’s almost as if God intentionally picked the most unlikely, unknown location to send His prophet. Tishbe was a tiny, remote village, the kind of place you drive through without stopping. Maybe, just maybe, you’d slow down long enough to roll down your window, buy some roasted corn or plantain from a roadside trader, and then quickly zoom off. Yet, it’s from this unremarkable town that God calls Elijah to stand before the most powerful man in Israel, King Ahab.
To put this in context, imagine a pastor in rural Nigeria suddenly being called to stand before the President at Aso Rock, right in the heart of political power, where the nation’s most crucial decisions are made. Elijah wasn’t being invited for a courtesy visit. He was stepping into the king’s court to rebuke him for leading Israel into sin.
This wasn’t just a ministry assignment, it was spiritual warfare on the national stage.
THE ADRENALINE OF MINISTRY SUCCESS
But Elijah doesn’t just deliver a prophetic warning to Ahab and disappear. His ministry accelerates at a supernatural pace.
Next, in 1 Kings 18, he calls for a showdown on Mount Carmel, a direct confrontation between God and Baal. It’s 850 false prophets against one prophet of God. With the entire nation watching, Elijah publicly mocks the prophets of Baal when their god fails to respond. Then, in an act of radical faith, he soaks the altar with water, making it humanly impossible for fire to consume the sacrifice.
And yet, when Elijah prays, fire falls from heaven. Not only does it consume the sacrifice, but also the wood, the stones, and even the water itself. The people fall on their faces, declaring, "The LORD, He is God!" Revival breaks out. Elijah then commands the execution of all 850 false prophets, restoring Israel’s covenant relationship with Yahweh.
And he doesn’t stop there.
He prays, and after what had been three years of drought, the rain finally returns. Then, in one of the most physically astonishing moments in Scripture (verse 18), Elijah supernaturally outruns King Ahab’s chariot, a feat of divine strength and adrenaline-fueled momentum.
This is a man running on fire, on power, on anointing, completely fueled by spiritual highs. Yet, he’s like an overblown and overstretched balloon expanding beyond its limits, one breath away from bursting.
NIJAH PASTORS, TAKE NOTE.
Elijah’s pace sounds remarkably similar to what many pastors experience today. No, we may not be calling down literal fire from heaven on the false prophets or witches of our communities, but many pastors are running at a breakneck speed, moving from one ministry victory to the next, driven by the momentum of success, the demands of ministry, and the constant pressure to do more.
One week, you’re leading a church-wide prayer meeting or a regional prayer conference that ignites a powerful move of God.
The next, you’re training younger ministers, pouring your wisdom into the next generation.
By midweek, you’re counselling members in crisis, attending elders’ meetings, and casting vision for the next ministry expansion.
In between, you’re coordinating a conference out of state, arranging travel, accommodation, and logistics.
All this while still preparing for Sunday’s sermon, fielding multiple preaching invitations, and handling unexpected emergencies in the church.
Your calendar is packed, your phone never stops buzzing, and you tell yourself: "This is what ministry is about. This is what it means to be anointed. Lives are being changed! The Spirit is moving! I have to keep going!"
The momentum is exhilarating. With each ministry win, it feels like God’s hand is pushing you forward. The church is expanding. People are responding. Testimonies are pouring in. It feels like nothing can stop this wave of success.
And yet, you’re a ticking time bomb.
Because this very cycle of spiritual highs, the adrenaline-fueled, success-driven running, is the same thing that sets pastors up for burnout.
This is where Elijah’s story shifts.
After all the victories, after the fire fell, after the prophets of Baal were defeated, after the rain finally came, something inside Elijah snapped.
THE INVISIBLE THREAT OF BURNOUT
What happens next to this mighty man of God is unexpected, almost baffling when viewed against the backdrop of his previous victories. And it holds a warning every pastor needs to hear.
1 Kings 19:1-3, “Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them. 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.”
A seemingly small threat from the Queen was all it took to send him spiraling into fear, depression, and isolation. Elijah, the fearless prophet, runs for his life. He isolates himself. He collapses under a tree, completely overwhelmed. And then, in the darkest moment of his ministry, he prays to die.
How could a man who just stood on Mount Carmel in fire-calling, miracle-working power suddenly spiral into fear, despair, and suicidal thoughts?
The answer is simple: Burnout.
To understand Elijah’s collapse, we have to look beyond Jezebel’s words. Yes, she was powerful. The daughter of the pagan king of Sidon, Jezebel wasn’t just a wicked queen, she was an embodiment of spiritual opposition. She had slaughtered the prophets of Yahweh, promoted idol worship, and was on a mission to wipe out the voice of God in Israel. Her reputation was terrifying, no doubt.
But was her threat alone enough to break Elijah? Unlikely. Elijah had faced far greater dangers than an angry queen. He had already survived Ahab’s wrath, outlasted a national drought, lived miraculously by divine provision, and stared down hundreds of false prophets in a life-or-death confrontation.
Jezebel wasn’t the cause of Elijah’s collapse. She was simply the tipping point. What we’re seeing in 1 Kings 19 is not just fear, it’s exhaustion.
After his marathon of ministry, Elijah had nothing left in his tank. His spirit was drained. His body was depleted. His emotions were fried. He had been running on supernatural momentum, fueled by adrenaline and anointing, but he had never stopped to refuel. So, when the exhaustion finally hit, the smallest spark, Jezebel’s words, ignited an emotional wildfire.
When Ministry Drains You: Modern Pastoral Burnout
Pastors, please take note: It’s often not the big battles that break us. It’s not the spiritual warfare, the exhausting schedule, or the impossible expectations, at least, not at first.
It’s the small moments.
One negative comment after what you assumed was a powerful sermon.
One church member who leaves without warning.
One personal disappointment.
One family crisis.
One financial setback.
And suddenly, the same pastor who was full of fire on Sunday morning is on the verge of quitting by Sunday night.
At our pastoral training center here in Jos, we’ve seen this too many times. Pastors who carry the weight of endless ministry commitments, preaching, counselling, leading meetings, handling crises, while still trying to be present for their wives, children, and personal struggles. Their schedules are packed. Their phones never stop ringing. Their churches are thriving, but their souls are starving.
And the consequences are heartbreaking:
· Marriages come under strain because the pastor is never emotionally present.
· Children feel distant from their fathers, watching them pour into the church while neglecting the home.
· Bodies breaking down under stress, while ignoring the warning signs.
· A growing sense of numbness: no longer excited about the things of God, just going through the motions.
Elijah’s burnout didn’t happen because Jezebel was too powerful. It happened because Elijah had been running too hard for too long. In the same way, when you run on spiritual adrenaline without refueling, it is only a matter of time before you crash.
10 INDICATORS THAT A PASTOR MIGHT BE EXPERIENCING BURNOUT
Elijah’s story reminds us that burnout doesn’t announce itself with flashing warning signs. It doesn’t begin with a dramatic breakdown or a sudden collapse. It creeps in like a slow leak in a tire, draining you little by little, until one day, you realize you can’t keep moving forward..
Many pastors don’t recognize burnout until it’s too late. We convince ourselves that our weariness is just a passing season, that we’ll feel better after the next conference, the next sermon, the next revival meeting. But the truth is, burnout doesn’t resolve itself. If ignored, it deepens. If left unchecked, it destroys.
So, how can you tell when you’re approaching the edge? What are the warning signs that your soul is running on empty? Let’s take a hard, honest look at ten indicators of burnout in ministry and what’s really happening beneath the surface. If you recognize yourself in these, it’s time to pause, reflect, and apply practical Spirit-filled wisdom to your life before it’s too late.
1. Emotional Numbness or Compassion Fatigue
One of the earliest and most telling signs of burnout is a loss of emotional engagement.
A pastor who once felt deeply for people’s struggles might start feeling indifferent or detached. His sermons and counselling sessions feel like just another task, rather than a heartfelt response to God’s calling.
There is a loss of joy in ministry, even when people give testimonies, share victories, or express gratitude, it barely moves them anymore.
What’s really happening: This is known as compassion fatigue, a condition where the constant demand to care for others drains a person’s ability to empathize or feel deeply. It often means the pastor is giving out more than they are receiving and needs serious replenishment.
2. Persistent Fatigue That Rest Doesn’t Fix
A healthy pastor gets tired but recovers with proper rest. A burnt-out pastor, however:
Wakes up feeling exhausted, no matter how much they sleep, and struggles to find energy for even basic daily tasks.
He may feel a constant, unshakable heaviness, as though he is dragging himself through the motions.
What’s really happening: Chronic fatigue is a sign that stress hormones like cortisol have been overactive for too long, pushing the body into a state of depletion. Without a basic medical check-up, this can lead to immune system breakdown, high blood pressure, heart disease, and severe depression.
3. Increased Irritability and Uncontrolled Emotional Responses
A pastor experiencing burnout will often become unusually short-tempered:
Small issues will trigger big reactions, and patience will wear thin, both at church and at home.
Ultimately, there is a deep internal frustration, but instead of being processed, it leaks out in anger, sarcasm, or cynicism.
What’s really happening: The brain is in a state of overload. When exhaustion meets unprocessed stress, the emotional system stops functioning properly, making it hard to regulate emotions.
4. Decreased Sense of Purpose and Effectiveness
Pastors in burnout often experience a crisis of confidence and purpose. They begin to think:
“Does my work even matter?”
“Maybe I’m not called for this anymore.”
“I’m failing, nothing I do seems to make a real difference.”
This is particularly dangerous because burnout distorts reality. A highly effective pastor whose church is growing, can feel like a failure, simply because their emotional and mental exhaustion is clouding their judgment.
What’s really happening: Burnout makes everything feel worse than it actually is. When the emotional tank is empty, even great success can feel meaningless. This is why restoration must happen before any big ministry decisions are made.
5. Avoidance Behaviors (Escapism and Withdrawal)
Burnt-out pastors often start avoiding people, responsibilities, and even personal devotional time:
They withdraw socially, becoming more isolated from friends, colleagues, and even their families.
They dread church responsibilities, preaching, counselling, leadership meetings start feeling like unbearable burdens.
They seek distractions, excessive social media scrolling, binge-watching TV, or even turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms (overeating, excessive caffeine, pornography, other addictive behaviors).
What’s really happening: Avoidance is a coping mechanism when someone is emotionally maxed out. The danger is that this leads to more guilt and self-criticism, which deepens the burnout cycle.
6. Neglecting Family Life
Burnout doesn’t just affect ministry it seeps into every part of life, including personal relationships. A pastor in burnout may:
Become distant from their spouse and children, physically present but emotionally absent.
Miss family events and milestones, even when they are available.
Lose interest in hobbies, friendships, and non-ministry activities that once brought joy.
What’s really happening: Many pastors unconsciously believe that ministry always comes before family. But when home life or physical wellbeing begins deteriorating, it’s a clear warning sign that something is deeply wrong. A pastor who is thriving in ministry but failing at home is not succeeding.
7. Increased Health Problems Linked to Stress
Prolonged burnout affects the body in severe ways:
Frequent headaches, muscle tension, or unexplained body pain.
Digestive issues (ulcers, acid reflux, loss of appetite).
High blood pressure, heart palpitations, or even panic attacks.
Increased vulnerability to illness due to a weakened immune system.
These symptoms often indicate that chronic stress has begun damaging the body. If ignored, burnout can lead to severe health crises, including heart disease and nervous system breakdown. For the record: These stress factor affect both the internal and external parts of your body, even basic self-care starts slipping away. This happens when the once sharp-looking pastor who took time to dress well now defaults to the same old suit every Sunday. Haircuts become irregular. Shoes remain unpolished. The waistline starts expanding, or the opposite happens: they’ve lost so much weight from stress that people keep asking if they are fasting. It’s not just about looks; it’s about stewardship. When exhaustion takes over, things like exercise, proper meals, sleep, and even medical checkups start feeling like luxuries.
What’s really happening” These symptoms often indicate that chronic stress has begun damaging the body. If ignored, burnout can lead to severe health crises, including heart disease and nervous system breakdown.
8. Spiritual Dryness and Loss of Connection with God
A pastor experiencing burnout may find that Bible reading becomes mechanical and intellectual; only done for sermon preparation, not for personal nourishment. Prayer may start to feel like an obligation, not a lifeline, and moments of worship may start to feel empty, like there is no real sense of God’s presence.
What’s really happening: One of the most dangerous effects of burnout is spiritual depletion. When a pastor stops drawing from the well of intimacy with God, they become a dry vessel trying to pour out to others.
9. Frequent Thoughts About Leaving Ministry
Burnt-out pastors often start fantasizing about quitting:
“Maybe I should just resign.”
“What if I left the city and started over?”
“Maybe I was never truly called.”
What’s really happening: The desire to quit is often more about escape than calling. Pastors must be careful not to make permanent decisions based on temporary exhaustion. The first response to burnout is renewal, not resignation.
10. Apathy Toward Moral and Ethical Boundaries
A pastor in deep burnout is at high risk of moral failure:
They may find themselves caught up in compromised decision-making, cutting ethical corners, justifying small dishonesties.
The pastor may also experience increased temptations toward inappropriate relationships, pornography, or other unhealthy escapes, as well as a loss of conviction, feeling spiritually disconnected leads to blurred moral lines.
What’s really happening: This happens because burnout weakens internal defenses. When the mind and emotions are depleted, temptations become harder to resist. This is why prevention is critical; no pastor is above burnout.
If you see yourself in any of these indicators, do not be discouraged (but don’t ignore them either), it is not a sign of failure, it is a wake-up call. Burnout does not mean your calling is over. It means your tank is empty and needs refueling.
BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT: GOD’S 3-PART BLUEPRINT FOR OVERCOMING BURNOUT
Let’s not forget that when Elijah collapsed under the weight of exhaustion, God didn’t rebuke him. He didn’t tell him to pray harder, fast more, or push through the weariness. Instead, He led him into a season of rest, renewal, and reconnection.
This is where pastors often get it wrong.
We assume the answer to burnout is deeper spiritual warfare, more anointing, or pressing harder into the work. But Elijah’s journey reveals a different truth: God’s solution was holistic. His restoration wasn’t just spiritual; it addressed every part of his being, his body, his soul, and his spirit; literally, sleep, and divine encouragement.
So, let’s take a deeper look at how God restored Elijah and what that means for us. What does it look like to care for the body, to renew the soul, and to refresh the spirit? These are not optional; they are necessary rhythms for sustainable, God-honoring leadership.
1. BODY: THE GIFT OF REST AND PHYSICAL CARE
In 1 Kings 19:3-9, we find Elijah at his lowest, physically, emotionally, and spiritually drained from the demands of ministry. He collapses in exhaustion under a broom tree, overwhelmed and ready to give up. God’s response? Not a rebuke. Not a sermon. Not even an immediate assignment.
Instead, God lets him sleep. Then, an angel wakes him, not with an urgent message, but with food and water. Elijah eats, drinks, and sleeps again. The angel returns a second time and insists, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you” (v. 7).
Before God addressed Elijah’s fears, doubts, or calling, He first addressed his physical condition. This is not incidental, it’s instructional.
Elijah’s story is a clear reminder that even when ministry demands remain urgent, rest is a necessity, not a luxury. Jezebel was still a threat, Ahab remained corrupt, and Israel was spiritually vulnerable. Yet, God paused everything to restore Elijah physically.
Pastors today must embrace this truth: we are not invincible. Our ministries will not collapse if we take a break, because the church is held together by Christ, not by our overworked bodies. Ignoring rest doesn’t make us more faithful; it makes us more vulnerable, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.
Practical Action Steps for Physical Renewal
1. Prioritize Sleep & Rest Intentionally:
Despite how busy critical his ministry and calling was, Jesus intentionally built extended time for Him and His team to physically rest and refresh (Mark 6:31). Schedule intentional downtime. Set realistic work boundaries. Take a Sabbath.
Avoid the lie that rest is wasted time—it’s a divine investment in longevity.
2. Engage in Regular Physical Movement
Walk daily (with your wife sometimes). It clears your mind and refreshes your body. Go outdoors.
Stretch, do basic exercises, or take the stairs instead of the elevator. A strong body supports a strong mind.
3. Take Care of Your Health with Regular Check-Ups
Many pastors neglect their health until a crisis hits. Don’t wait for burnout or illness to force rest upon you.
See a doctor for routine check-ups, blood pressure, cholesterol, stress-related symptoms. Caring for your body is not self-indulgence, it’s stewardship.
Bottom Line: God designed the body with limits and your body will drop several subtle, and not so subtle hints when it reaches those limits. Pay attention to it! Elijah’s restoration began when he slowed down. If you don’t take time to rest, your body will force you to. Listen to God’s whisper before you collapse under exhaustion.
2. SOUL: THE WHISPER OF GOD IN THE STILLNESS
After Elijah’s body was restored, God still didn’t send him straight back into ministry.
Instead, He led him on a 40-day journey to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. There, Elijah witnessed a powerful wind, a mighty earthquake, and a consuming fire, all dramatic displays of God’s power. Yet, Scripture tells us the Lord was not in them. Instead, God’s voice came in a gentle whisper.
Elijah had experienced God’s power before, fire from heaven, supernatural provision, miraculous victories. But now, God was teaching him something deeper: He is just as present in the stillness as He is in the spectacular.
Too often, pastors expect to hear from God in grand ministry moments, revival meetings, breakthrough sermons, supernatural encounters. But what about the quiet? When was the last time you sat before God with no agenda, no prayer requests, just listening? When was the last time you opened your Bible, not to prepare a sermon, but simply to hear from Him?
Elijah’s soul was renewed in the stillness. And pastors today desperately need this same renewal. Ministry will drain you if you never step back to be refilled. If we only seek God in the action and not in the stillness, we risk losing sight of His voice altogether.
Practical Action Steps for Soul Renewal
1. Schedule Regular Personal Retreats
Step away from the pulpit for intentional solitude with God. Even Jesus withdrew often (Luke 5:16).
Find a quiet place (a retreat center, a quiet home, or a nature spot) where you can spend time alone with God, without distractions.
2. Practice Silence and Unhurried Devotion
Instead of rushing through devotion, set aside time to sit in silence before God (Psalm 46:10).
Read Scripture for your soul, not for sermon prep. Journal what God impresses on your heart.
3. Honor a Weekly Sabbath Without Guilt
Take one full day to stop ministry work. Rest, pray, reflect, and do something that replenishes you.
Trust that the church will survive without you for a day, because you are not its Savior, Jesus is.
Bottom Line: If you don’t prioritize stillness, you will lose the ability to hear God clearly, and believe me, God has a LOT He wants to whisper to your ear! Elijah needed to hear God’s whisper to regain perspective, and so do you. If you want longevity in ministry, protect the still moments with God as fiercely as you protect your preaching schedule.
3. SPIRIT: YOU CAN’T DO IT ALONE
One of the most heartbreaking moments in Elijah’s story is his repeated cry to God: “I am the only one left.” Twice, he tells the Lord how utterly alone he feels (1 Kings 19:10,14). But was he really alone? No.
God responds by reminding Elijah that there were 7,000 others in Israel who had remained faithful. Then, He introduces him to Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha, people who would walk alongside him and carry the mission forward.
Elijah had believed a dangerous lie that pastors often do, that he had to do ministry alone. But God never calls His servants to isolation. Ministry was never meant to be a solo endeavour. Even the mightiest of God’s servants had companions:
Moses had Joshua.
David had Jonathan.
Paul had Barnabas (and later Timothy, Silas, and Luke).
Jesus Himself surrounded Himself with the twelve.
Yet today, too many pastors feel they must shoulder the entire burden of their churches or ministries alone. They struggle in silence, thinking no one will understand their challenges. This is a recipe for burnout.
If you’re going to last in ministry, you need brothers who will walk with you. Friendships won’t just happen, you must intentionally cultivate them. Here’s how:
1. Find a Trusted Ministry Peer or Mentor
Connect with a fellow pastor, elder, or ministry leader who understands the weight of leadership.
Build a relationship beyond surface-level conversations, someone you can share both victories and struggles with.
2. Join or Form a Small Support Group of Pastors
A monthly or quarterly gathering with like-minded pastors can provide encouragement and wisdom.
This should be a safe space where honesty is welcomed, not a place for ministry competition. If you’re in Jos, we invite you to consider joining our SoulCare Semester for Pastors where you’ll be placed in a pastoral cohort with other godly pastors you can build a friendship with.
3. Involve Your Wife and Make Couple Friends
Your wife should never feel like an outsider to your struggles. She is your first and most important ministry companion.
Build friendships with other pastor couples, where both you and your wife can be poured into and refreshed.
4. Be Willing to Ask for Help
Elijah thought he was alone, but he wasn’t. Sometimes, we feel alone simply because we refuse to reach out.
Take the step. Call someone. Open up. Let others carry the burden with you (Galatians 6:2).
Bottom Line: If Elijah, one of the greatest prophets, needed companions, so do you. If you try to do ministry alone, you will eventually collapse under the weight of it. But when you walk alongside others, you will find strength, encouragement, and endurance for the long haul.
THE SECRET THAT BURNOUT NEVER TOLD ELIJAH
You’ve followed Elijah’s journey. You’ve seen him at his highest, calling fire down from heaven, outrunning chariots, standing boldly before kings. And you’ve seen him at his lowest, collapsed under a tree, begging God to let him die.
But do you want to know a secret? The one thing burnout never told Elijah?
The fear that drove him into the wilderness, the terror that convinced him his life was over, was a lie.
Think about it: Elijah ran because he feared Jezebel would kill him. He was so drained, so emotionally spent, that her threat felt like a death sentence. It consumed him. It distorted his reality. It made him believe his story was ending
Yet, here’s the irony: Not only did Jezebel never touch him, but Elijah never died.
Let that sink in.
The man who was so afraid of dying… was one of the few in human history who never saw death. Instead of perishing under a broom tree, God sent him a first-class, fiery Uber straight to heaven. (2 Kings 2:11). He ran from a death that was never coming.
What if the same is true for you, pastor?
What if the exhaustion, the fear, the creeping doubts whispering that you’ve failed, that you’re not enough, that this weight will crush you, what if it’s all a lie? What if burnout has been distorting your vision? And what if the very thing you need isn’t more striving, more pushing, more proving yourself, but exactly what Elijah needed?
A pause. A meal. A nap. A retreat into God's presence?
So, dear pastor, before you crash:
Take the nap.
Eat the food your wife cooked.
Take the walk.
Build friendships.
Ask for help.
Make a friend.
And most importantly, remember this: You are not God… even His Son rested.
You were never called to die on the altar of overwork. Jesus already did that for you. Your calling is not to collapse, but to endure. To live whole, renewed, and ready for the long road ahead.
And if you’re still looking for a sign that you need rest? Check your Sunday attire. If it’s the same one you’ve worn for the last three Sundays, if your haircut is beginning to resemble John the Baptist’s wilderness phase, or if your shoes are crying out for polish, take that as divine invitation. It’s time to step away and recharge.
After all, even Elijah needed a break. And look how that turned out for him.
