[EPISODE 1] The Warning Signs Your Ministry is Slowly Killing You

Let’s start with a tough question: have you ever had a moment where you thought, “I can’t do this anymore”?

I’m not talking about a bad Sunday or a hard counseling session. I’m talking about that deep, gnawing sense that the fire has gone out. That you’re just surviving week to week, Sunday to Sunday. And no matter how much coffee you drink, how long you prep, or how well your church is doing on paper… something still feels off.

That, my friend, is often what burnout feels like in ministry.

And if you’re tuning in today, there’s a decent chance something inside of you already knows that. You may not be fully burned out, but you’re feeling the heat.

Today we’re talking about how burnout doesn’t usually arrive with a crash. It creeps in.

UNDERSTANDING BURNOUT

Let’s define what we’re talking about when we say burnout. Burnout isn’t just feeling tired. Burnout is emotional, spiritual, and physical exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, unrelenting pressure, and unrealistic expectations—both from others and from yourself.

In ministry, that’s a perfect storm, right? We’ve got all three—stress, pressure, and expectation.

* Stress from constant crisis management

* Pressure to always be “on,” always available, always compassionate

* Expectation from members, staff, deacons, your denomination, and your own internal guilt

Burnout is when you’re running on fumes and pretending the tank is full. And here’s the problem: pastors don’t just get tired, we feel guilty for being tired. So we don’t stop. We push harder. We call it sacrifice. We spiritualize our exhaustion.

But God never asked you to burn out for Him.

WHY PASTORS MISS THE EARLY SIGNS

Now, you might be wondering, how did I get here? Why didn’t I notice sooner?

That’s the thing about burnout: it’s sneaky. It doesn’t announce itself with flashing lights. It shows up in small compromises:

* You skip your personal devotional time… again.

* You dread phone calls because you assume it’s bad news.

* You start counting how many Sundays until your next guest speaker fills in.

And here’s a huge reason pastors miss the signs: we’re used to giving care, not receiving it. We’re trained to listen to others’ pain. But when it comes to our own, we dismiss it. We tell ourselves, “I’m fine.”

We confuse coping with healing. They’re not the same.

You can keep functioning while you’re falling apart. And in ministry, that happens more than we’d like to admit.

THE CREEPING SIGNS YOU MIGHT MISS

Let’s break down a few real-life warning signs that you might be inching toward burnout:

* You start envying people who don’t work in ministry.

If you’ve ever watched someone working retail or at a bank and thought, “I bet they don’t cry in the car after work,” that’s a clue.

* You become hypersensitive to criticism.

A slightly snarky comment in the lobby ruins your whole week. That’s not immaturity, it’s a soul that’s fraying.

* You feel emotionally numb.

You’re not angry, but you’re not joyful either. You’re flat. You’re going through the motions. And you’ve convinced yourself that’s normal.

* You procrastinate things you used to love.

You used to love sermon prep. Now you stare at a blank page. You used to get excited about meetings. Now you hope people cancel.

* Your humor turns cynical.

What once made you lighthearted now just feels jaded. Sarcasm replaces hope. Resentment replaces grace.

BURNOUT VS. DEPRESSION VS. SEASONAL FATIGUE

One important note: not all fatigue is burnout. Some of what you’re experiencing might be:

* Seasonal fatigue—like post-Easter exhaustion

* Mild depression—which can overlap with burnout

* Spiritual dryness—a lack of connection with God

Here’s a diagnostic tip:

* If rest helps, it’s probably fatigue.

* If rest doesn’t help, it might be burnout.

* If nothing helps, it’s worth talking to a mental health professional.

You are not weak for asking for help. You’re wise. There’s a big difference.

COMMON ROOTS OF BURNOUT

Now let’s talk about what drives burnout at its root.

* Unrealistic Expectations

You’re expected to be counselor, preacher, CEO, HR, janitor, and spiritual guru all at once. That’s not sustainable. And you were never meant to do it all.

* Poor Boundaries

If you feel guilty taking a day off, that’s a boundary issue. If your phone rings during dinner and you immediately answer, even when it could wait, that’s a boundary issue.

* The Savior Complex

You’re not