“Is it supposed to feel like this?” Shrinking congregations, pandemic aftershocks, aging members and denominational anxieties have many in ministry feeling tired. There are fewer volunteers to do the ministry but with higher expectations of ministry happening. There are all the tech, hybrid worship, and the conflict and polarization in our society. Sometimes there is no clear moment – just a slow creep of exhaustion. You still love preaching the gospel. You still care deeply about your people. But the work that once felt meaningful now sometimes feels… crushing.
If ministry feels heavier than it used to, that does not mean you’ve become weaker, less faithful, or less called. It means the load actually is heavier – and your inner coping strategies are straining under the weight. Nothing is wrong with you, but you may need a different way of carrying what you carry.
During times of stress, certain inner voices (self-criticism, perfectionism, fear of letting people down) get louder. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was designed to do under prolonged stress which is to move into survival mode. But survival mode is a poor long-term operating system for ministry.
What if nothing is ‘wrong’ with you but you still need a different way to carry this? I would invite you to consider a “mental fitness” program that helps you to quiet those critical inner voices, strengthening the part of your brain that responds instead of reacts. The mental fitness exercises feel like micro-Sabbaths for your nervous system.
If you have an interest in learning more about “mental fitness” and quieting those inner voices, respond to this email with “tell me more” and I will connect you with a free assessment that allows you to identify the common critical voices and to learn about how they are lying to you and draining your energy.
