Reclaiming Joy When Ministry Feels Heavy
November invites us into gratitude. But if you’re honest, gratitude might not be the first word that comes to mind when you survey the landscape of your ministry right now. Maybe it’s exhaustion. Or frustration. Or that low-grade worry that’s been running in the background for so long you’ve almost stopped noticing it.
If that’s where you are, I want to say something gently but clearly: that is not the only way to feel.
The Difference Between Happiness and Joy
Gratitude and joy aren’t the same as happiness. Happiness is responsive — it rises and falls with circumstances. Joy is something deeper. It’s rooted in a conviction that God is at work, that you are where you’re supposed to be, and that the work matters — even when the results are invisible.
The non-anxious pastor isn’t someone who has no problems. It’s someone who has developed enough inner stability that the problems don’t run the show.
When Coaching Rekindles the Flame
One of the things I hear most often from long-term coaching clients is that they came in depleted — and they rediscovered something they thought they’d lost.
“What Barbara offers to me every single time we meet is one who not only lifts my spirits, but recharges my heart and passion for ministry, leading me to tangible ideas that lead toward important outcomes!” — Bishop Martin Halom
Another pastor described coming out of burnout and finding not just recovery, but genuine renewal:
“Each time I met with Barbara, the work that I did seemed like a joy, even though I faced some big issues and some ugly demons. Her feedback allowed me to turn every trouble into a tool, every problem into a possibility.” — Clergy Life Coaching Client
And a pastor who had spent months in the fog of ministry discouragement wrote this:
“I am hopeful for the first time in many months about where God is leading me, confident that I am accompanied by a Spirit that can be trusted, with companions who care and pray seriously.” — Clergy Life Coaching Client
A November Practice: Noticing the Wins
One of the simplest and most powerful things I do in coaching is help pastors notice what’s actually going right — because ministry has a way of making the struggles loud and the victories quiet.
Here’s an invitation for this month: at the end of each week, write down three things — however small — that went well. A conversation that felt genuine. A moment in worship that moved you. A person who seemed to receive exactly what they needed. A decision you made that you feel good about.
Gratitude isn’t denial. It’s attention. And when you train your attention on what God is doing — alongside the hard things — joy has room to grow.
If you’d like support in reclaiming joy and sustainability in ministry, I’d love to connect: go.oncehub.com/clergylife
Blessings! –Barbara
