Finding Rest In A Busy Ministry
I only remembered the first two minutes of the movie. Before the opening credits were over I was asleep. My tiredness was from a long week of...
Are You Making Ministry Harder Then It Really Is?
Christopher Wesley
Jul 27, 2021
Every week I was finding myself completely exhausted before the first teen arrived for our middle school programs. I was tired because there were dozens of chairs, tables, games, etc., to set up before they arrived. I’ve always valued irresistible environments; however, this aspirational goal was draining me. I was tired before the program even got started.
Ministering to kids, teens, or adults is going to be difficult because relationships are not clean-cut. Ministry is not as simple as pushing a button or executing a task. It takes investment, adaptability, and a whole bunch of humility. And while the ministry has its challenges, the joy will always be worth it, except when we get in the way.
There are certain habits that we’ve either created ourselves or bought into that make leading a ministry much more difficult than it’s supposed to be. We might believe the longer we work, the more productive we will be. There are times when we’ll focus on situations that barely scratch the surface of a deeper issue. We will find ourselves too busy to invest in others and too afraid to address the bigger issues because we’d rather manage the problem than irradicate it.
WHO DO I NEED TO INCLUDE IN THIS PROJECT?
It would take me years before I learned that other people in my parish wanted to serve teens without ever having to talk with one. They were more than willing to come in, set up the room, and put together the materials for our program. When it comes to ministry, it’s easy to forget that most projects and initiatives are accomplished quicker when we have people helping us.
The next time you find yourself pondering, “I need help.” take a minute to pause with a pen and piece of paper to jot the names of individuals you could ask for help. They might say that they are busy, but you won’t know for sure if you do not ask them.
Eventually, I was able to find people who would not only set up the chairs but coordinate other volunteers to assist. They became project managers, which allowed me to focus on what mattered most.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I TOOK A BREAK?
I felt guilty leaving my desk knowing that there were emails to answer and talks to finish writing, but I was done. The more I sat at my desk, the longer it took me to write out words and formulate ideas. I was tired, and no amount of willpower was going to help me grind out anything productive. There are times when I have to remind myself it’s okay to take a break.
Whether you are part-time, full-time, or volunteer you have a limit, and recognizing them is essential. The 10, 15, 20, 30 or 40 hours a week you are commissioned to do a job are not a suggestion. Your job description and hourly expectations are there to help you make the most of your time. Even if you have more time to physically give towards a project, you might not be able to give anything spiritually, emotionally, or mentally.
It can be hard to recognize our limits and that is where having accountability is essential. Building a leadership team and having peers to remind you to rest is critical to your longevity. Planning a regular day off and scheduling a vacation gives you the guidance to step away, refuel and take on the week ahead.
We have to remember the adage; it’s best to stop early than too late. When you pace yourself and allow breaks for rest and healing, you equip yourself to take on ministry for the long haul. Recognizing you have limits is a strength, not a weakness.
IS THERE AN EASIER WAY OF DOING THIS?
Most times the answer is yes. Unfortunately, we never slow down enough to really figure it out how to do something more efficiently. It’s easy for us to get used to our methodologies, even if they do not make sense. It might seem like a waste of time to stop what you are doing to answer the question, “Is there a better way?” because what you are currently doing does not seem that bad.
Jim Collins, the author of Good to Great frequently writes that good is the enemy of great. It’s the enemy when we do not push ourselves to find something better. Because the world is always changing, there will constantly be a need to reexamine our processes and strategies. However, if we avoid the work then we’ll only find ourselves stuck in slowly dying structures.
Ministry is a combination of reflection and action. Your prayer life, how you care for your body and stretch your mind will impact your effectiveness. And no matter what is at stake, we have to make sure we’re engaging in our mission fields with the right mindset. When you have the right mentality and focus on building the ministry correctly, you’ll see the fruits and experience the joy of what God has called you to do.