I got back from vacation feeling completely exhausted.
To be fair, a week at Disney World isn’t exactly designed for recovery. But the trip exposed something I had been telling myself for years.
Whenever I felt tired at work, I would think, “I need a vacation.”
What I really meant was, “I need rest.”
And even when I did rest, it sometimes still wasn’t enough.
Rest is essential if you want to stay in ministry for the long haul. But rest alone won’t keep you moving. Over the years, I’ve realized there are a few habits that actually keep me refreshed and steady — especially in seasons when ministry feels heavy.
One of the reasons I stayed at the same parishes for as long as I did is because I genuinely loved the people I served. But being surrounded by people isn’t the same as being supported by them.
There were seasons when I felt completely alone.
Many of my relationships were formed by convenience — staff meetings, parish events, ministry circles. There’s nothing wrong with ministry friendships. But if you want deep, life-giving relationships, they require intention beyond proximity.
My closest friends today are a mix of people from ministry and outside of it. What makes those friendships strong isn’t shared employment — it’s shared life. They know me beyond my job description. When parish stress escalates or personal struggles surface, they walk with me.
You don’t necessarily need friends outside of ministry. But you do need relationships that aren’t sustained by convenience.
Try this: Text one person this week and schedule something that has nothing to do with parish work. No agenda. Just presence.
“All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.”
That 17th-century proverb surfaces in my mind whenever I feel stretched thin. Ministry can quietly consume your imagination. Every idea becomes a program. Every conversation becomes pastoral care. Every free hour feels like preparation time.
Play interrupts that pattern.
Whether it’s experimenting in the kitchen, hiking, working out, or joining a movie club, hobbies give your brain space to breathe. They remind you that you are a human being, not just a ministry machine.
Interesting leaders tend to live interesting lives — not because they’re flashy, but because they cultivate curiosity.
And here’s the part we often resist: hobbies are not selfish. They create mental margin. They restore creativity. They increase resilience.
Try this: Pick one small activity you enjoy and protect one hour this week for it. Put it on the calendar like a meeting.
Ministry asks a lot of you — emotionally, spiritually, intellectually. If you’re not growing, you’re slowly draining.
Investing in yourself doesn’t mean adding more to your plate. It means strengthening the foundation that holds the plate.
Spiritual direction.
Exercise.
Workshops.
Prayer.
Reading something that stretches your thinking.
When you look at Jesus’ ministry, He wasn’t constantly teaching or performing miracles. He withdrew. He prayed. He shared meals. He lived fully human.
Your formation is not a luxury. It’s infrastructure.
The stronger you are spiritually and humanly, the more sustainable your leadership becomes.
Try this: Choose one area — spiritual, human, intellectual — and commit to a small step for the next 30 days. Keep it modest.
You still need rest. Take the vacation. Go to the beach. Visit the mountains. Even survive Disney.
But rest alone is not enough.
If you want to remain faithful without burning out, you have to remember you are more than your role. You are a person first.
Sustainable ministry doesn’t come from escape.
It comes from a life that is intentionally human.