Communication Tips for Ministers to Avoid Overwhelm and Burnout
“In dealing with those who are undergoing great suffering, if you feel “burnout” setting in, if you feel demoralized and exhausted, it is best, for the sake of everyone, to withdraw and restore yourself. The point is to have a long-term perspective.” – Dalai Lama
The amount of work ministers do is rarely understood by any other than pastors and helping professionals alike. Countless hours spent with your flock dealing with out-of-control teens, sickness, death, hospital visits, marriage counseling, and interventions. Add in the number of invitations you receive for this dinner or that, a birthday or other celebration and the hours are staggering! And it seems all of these responsibilities are amplified during the holiday season. It requires a lot of energy to balance all those relationships plus take care of your relationship with your spouse and your family. Not to mention, the required downtime needed for your own spiritual and mental health and well-being.
Your job is more than the sermon on Sunday, occasional wedding or the unfortunate funeral services. You probably have more than just one role as minister. You may be a jack of all trades – the accountant, janitor and sound manager. It is a job, a calling, a career and a lifestyle.
More than that, unless you are a minister or minister’s wife it’s hard to understand the burnout that can overwhelm you. Sometimes there are feelings of loneliness and depression. And, although you wholeheartedly love your congregation and consider it a privilege that God has called you to this life, resentment can crop up. For as absolutely glorious, miraculous and rewarding the calling is, it can be just as thankless and tiring.
So what is a minister to do?
Communicate Clearly
The concept of communication may seem like an easier-said-than-done task, however, the right communication can save your energy. The right communication creates space for you to cover all the bases and do the things you do best.
Establish a Support System
Most ministers have an inner circle or close network of personal support. If not, look around at the people who are most faithful to you, not necessarily to your church but, you personally. Consider the people you spend time with who, when you depart, leave you feeling energized and refreshed. These are people who can be a great help to you during draining times. Consider delegating some responsibilities to them. If they are not part of your congregation and you just feel better when you see them, purposefully schedule time with those friends when you start to feel overwhelmed.
Admit Your Need for Help
Yes, you are called to this work.
Yes, God will grant you wisdom, strength and endurance for the difficult times.
Cry out to God first.
“I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.” [Psalm 57:2]
God “accomplishes” for his saints whatever is good for them! He will do so for you as well.
Sometimes God is telling you, through that wisdom, to get some rest! You have a body that needs care. You have a need for mental and physical rest just as any other individual. Taking the time to get that rest is not selfish. You are not letting anyone down. If you took a two hour nap on Sunday, before the marriage counseling session, how much better would you feel? More than that, how much clearer and sharper would you be when assisting the couple in crisis. Taking care of yourself helps you take better care of those you serve.
The key is acknowledging and admitting you need help. Do you need someone else to mow the widow’s lawn? Or clean the bathrooms at the church? Or visit the hospital?
Tips for Improving Communication and Increasing your Energy
1. Acknowledge your need of help. Acknowledge it to God and to your personal and church support systems.
2. Communicate your need for help to others. Be clear about how you feel and what you need.
3. Utilize or establish your personal support system. Spend time with people who make you feel best. It’s ok to spend time with people who give back to you.
4. Be willing to delegate what you can, and accept that the task may not be done exactly to your specifications. It can’t always be perfect but often people want and need to help. It makes them feel needed and re-joins them to the church and serving community.
5. Take the time to rest and refresh. He said, “Be still and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10] Stillness is a command for all of us. This is often when God speaks to us – when we are still and quiet enough to hear. Busyness is not a measure of success. The Hebrew definition is actually to stop striving, to let go, to surrender because God is your refuge. Another literal translation of “Be Still”, taken from the Greek, is – Hush! [Mark 4:39]
Benefits of Communicating your Needs
Do you think God can use another burnt out minister? How many stories have you heard about ministers who get exhausted and discouraged and leave the ministry? How many ministers do you know with this story? You were not meant to do it alone.
Don’t let fear or hurt from past attempts to get help and support stop you from doing it now. God will take care of those issues when you trust Him to heal the hurt places and pray He brings the right people into your path.
When the minister is vulnerable it is not a sign of weakness. Communicating your needs for support to the right people does not mean you have failed. It does not mean you are doing something wrong. It means you recognize you are not God; you are a human, imperfect, and you are just like everyone else you teach and serve!
Sanity can be maintained, mental health restored, and burnout avoided if you follow these tips for clear communication. Don’t wait until you feel you are at the end of your rope!
What are your Tips for Coping with Burnout and Overwhelm?
Blessings,
Karen Lindwall-Bourg
“Achieve Levels of Success Worth Celebrating”
*Founder, Karen Bourg Companies http://karenbourg.com
*Owner, President {Inter}National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs/International Christian Mompreneur Network http://nacwe.org
*Founder, RHEMA Publishing House http://rhemapublishinghouse.com
*Founder, RHEMA Lakeside Retreat Center https://www.facebook.com/rhemaretreat/
*Founder, RHEMA Counseling Associates http://rhemacounseling.com
About Karen Lindwall-Bourg
Karen Lindwall-Bourg is the President of the {Inter} National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs [est. May 2010] and the new President of the International Christian Mompreneur Network [est. July 2010], both at http://nacwe.org . She and the NACWE Operations and Leadership Teams work diligently to provide
· Community
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opportunities to Christian Women Entrepreneurs, Mompreneurs and Nanapreneurs alike all over the world!
Our Core Values are
· Community – we value Connection, Collaboration and Contribution
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Karen is wife to Fred, Mommy to 6 kids and 5 in-loves, Nana to “going-on” 12 grandchildren, and treat provider deluxe for a herd of Great Pyrenees who protect their north TX ranch! She is an entrepreneur coach, author, publisher, retreat hostess and more! Learn more about Mastermind groups and “Celebration” coaching with Karen at http://karenbourg.com