Are you really burnt out… or are you just deeply discouraged?
In this episode of The Shaping Student Ministry Podcast, John and Ian tackle the confusion between burnout and discouragement — and why understanding the difference could keep you from walking away from something God has actually called you to do.
🔍 In this episode, we cover:
• The signs and symptoms of discouragement vs. burnout
• Why burnout has become a “badge of honor” in ministry culture
• What Barna says about the crisis in pastoral health
• How isolation fuels helplessness (learned helplessness theory)
• The emotional, spiritual, and relational differences between the two
• Why community is the cure
• What Marshawn Lynch and septic tanks have to do with your ministry mindset
🤯 💬 “If you mislabel discouragement as burnout, you might quit something you were called to endure. But if you mislabel burnout as discouragement, you’ll keep grinding until you collapse.”
🎧 Want Part 2 of the conversation?
In the subscriber-only bonus episode, we walk through:
✅ Practical rhythms to recover from burnout
✅ How to know when it’s time to take a break
✅ Why a sabbatical might not fix what you’re feeling
✅ How to lead yourself well so you can keep leading others
✅ The burnout quiz to help assess where you stand
👇 Join the community for bonus episodes, cohorts, and exclusive tools: shapingstudentministry.com/community
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