Pastoral survival could be a grim matter. Pastors cope with despair (18% of them, per Lifeway Analysis), loneliness (65% of all pastors in 2023), trauma, unrealistic expectations on pastoral households, and extra.
The lifetime of a hireling is simpler than the lifetime of a shepherd. Caring for sheep (and never a number of goats) is a life-giving endeavor. By that I imply shepherds give their lives for the sheep, simply as Jesus did.
Pastors develop mentally weary from sermon preparation; develop emotionally weary from bearing the burdens of the flock and their household; and bodily weary from burning the candle at each ends—and sometimes the center as effectively. Even when efficiently sustaining time alone with God, an energetic prayer life, and full belief in his plan, the battle to take care of self-care is actual.
I’ve by no means heard of pastors who deliberately put on themselves all the way down to nothing; it simply occurs. Listed here are 3 ways you may actively take part in your personal survival.
Get sufficient high quality sleep.
Sleep? What’s that?
One thing a variety of pastors don’t get sufficient of. “I’ll relaxation after I’m lifeless” isn’t biblical counsel.
Anecdotally, pastors work 45-60 hours every week. Self-imposed strain to check like Jonathan Edwards, minister like Amy Carmichael, write as a lot as John Piper, preach as deeply as Charles Spurgeon, and have influence like Martin Luther King, Jr makes for irregular schedules and irregular sleep.
I bear in mind one trip throughout my final full-time pastorate. I wasn’t conscious of being notably drained, however after I awoke the following morning I’d slept for 13 hours! I used to be past exhausted and didn’t even understand it. As many preachers have famous, there’s a motive Jesus fell asleep in a ship and needed to be rousted throughout a squall.
With few exceptions, adults want between seven and 9 hours of sleep every night time. And it isn’t solely the quantity of sleep you get, however the high quality of that sleep. With newborns within the residence, high quality sleep disappears for months. Younger youngsters needing consolation within the wee hours disrupt sleep. Teenagers can require sleeping with one eye open for years. Ageing is accompanied by in a single day toilet visits, usually a number of such journeys. It’s no marvel pastors don’t get sufficient high quality sleep.
However, “sleep high quality is important for our total well being. Analysis has proven that folks with poor sleep high quality are at the next threat for diabetes, coronary heart illness, stroke, and psychological well being points like nervousness and despair.” (Harvard Well being) High quality sleep being onerous to catch is not any motive to not pursue it.
Eat wholesome, nutritious meals.
“Hey pastor, wanna seize breakfast this week?”
“Certain. The place and when.”
“7:00, [local house of sodium]”
Sound acquainted? Now add lunches and desk-drawer snacks.
Pastors can fall sufferer to the identical unhealthy consuming habits because the unhealthiest folks round. In a 2024 survey of pastors enrolled with Guidestone, 28% admitted their bodily well being isn’t what it needs to be. A 2020 survey of 560 pastors discovered solely 14% with a wholesome Physique Mass Index, with 46% of the respondents being overweight.
Maintaining a healthy diet is tough and consuming unhealthy is straightforward; that’s the foundation drawback of the American weight-reduction plan. The time—and value—of shopping for wholesome meals, making ready wholesome meals, and chopping down on unhealthy “treats” takes as a lot Spirit-controlled residing as conquering different components of our undisciplined lives.
Nevertheless it’s crucially essential that we take note of what we eat and make vital adjustments to our diets.
There isn’t any dearth of articles and books on gut-health, heart-health, wholesome meal prep, and balanced diets for each section of life. Take small steps if wanted; however take the steps.
If maintaining a healthy diet is a battle for you, see your physician to discover a path of correct vitamin. “Don’t,” as my former professor informed his class, “dig your grave together with your enamel.”
Make and maintain associates who invite and shield honesty.
For a lot of pastors, an absence of shut associates is inextricably linked to the loneliness referenced on the prime of this text. Trusted communication is the warp and woof of shut friendship, however could be a problem for pastors. The bonds of pastoral belief (or “sanctity” in some traditions) restrict a lot pastoral dialog to sports activities or different innocuous matters that keep away from revealing non-public info.
Pastors want associates with whom they are often fully open and trustworthy with no concern of being stabbed within the again or ignored within the chilly.
To be clear, there are occasions when a therapist or counselor is required. I don’t intend to say having associates will at all times clear up deep-seated challenges. Pastoral PTSD, as some have termed it, wants various coffees or a spherical of golf.
However having associates isn’t unimportant, both.
Pastors want associates who invite and shield honesty. Meaning folks you don’t decide your genuine struggles, present a wholesome place to unload and kind these struggles, and maintain private points confidential.
For me, it’s a textual content group of three pastors, one former pastor, and myself. We’ve by no means lived in the identical metropolis—we met on-line greater than 20 years in the past. I believe every of us would say, other than different associates we’ve got, that group is a protected area the place we every work out completely different features of our personal salvation with concern and trembling…however with out concern of leaked particulars.
I proceed to consider most pastors have a robust want to please God. They spend time within the Phrase, evangelize, minister, and pray. All these items are certainly included in what Paul referenced as his ministry with the church buildings. It’s all Kingdom work, however it will probably break you down. So take care to self-care. It isn’t egocentric; it’s godly.
Posted on June 18, 2025
Marty Duren is a author, editor, and writer in Nashville, TN. For a few years, he has served church buildings in Georgia and Tennessee in full- and part-time pastoral and volunteer alternatives. Marty is married to Sonya, the love of his life. Their 4 youngsters are grown; their two grandkids should not. They’ve a collie with PTSD and a cat with an angle. His newest ebook is The Disparate Ones: Essays on Being within the World however Not of the World (Missional Press). Attain Marty at freelance.martyduren.com, or join on Fb and Bluesky.
Extra from Marty
Pastoral survival could be a grim matter. Pastors cope with despair (18% of them, per Lifeway Analysis), loneliness (65% of all pastors in 2023), trauma, unrealistic expectations on pastoral households, and extra.
The lifetime of a hireling is simpler than the lifetime of a shepherd. Caring for sheep (and never a number of goats) is a life-giving endeavor. By that I imply shepherds give their lives for the sheep, simply as Jesus did.
Pastors develop mentally weary from sermon preparation; develop emotionally weary from bearing the burdens of the flock and their household; and bodily weary from burning the candle at each ends—and sometimes the center as effectively. Even when efficiently sustaining time alone with God, an energetic prayer life, and full belief in his plan, the battle to take care of self-care is actual.
I’ve by no means heard of pastors who deliberately put on themselves all the way down to nothing; it simply occurs. Listed here are 3 ways you may actively take part in your personal survival.
Get sufficient high quality sleep.
Sleep? What’s that?
One thing a variety of pastors don’t get sufficient of. “I’ll relaxation after I’m lifeless” isn’t biblical counsel.
Anecdotally, pastors work 45-60 hours every week. Self-imposed strain to check like Jonathan Edwards, minister like Amy Carmichael, write as a lot as John Piper, preach as deeply as Charles Spurgeon, and have influence like Martin Luther King, Jr makes for irregular schedules and irregular sleep.
I bear in mind one trip throughout my final full-time pastorate. I wasn’t conscious of being notably drained, however after I awoke the following morning I’d slept for 13 hours! I used to be past exhausted and didn’t even understand it. As many preachers have famous, there’s a motive Jesus fell asleep in a ship and needed to be rousted throughout a squall.
With few exceptions, adults want between seven and 9 hours of sleep every night time. And it isn’t solely the quantity of sleep you get, however the high quality of that sleep. With newborns within the residence, high quality sleep disappears for months. Younger youngsters needing consolation within the wee hours disrupt sleep. Teenagers can require sleeping with one eye open for years. Ageing is accompanied by in a single day toilet visits, usually a number of such journeys. It’s no marvel pastors don’t get sufficient high quality sleep.
However, “sleep high quality is important for our total well being. Analysis has proven that folks with poor sleep high quality are at the next threat for diabetes, coronary heart illness, stroke, and psychological well being points like nervousness and despair.” (Harvard Well being) High quality sleep being onerous to catch is not any motive to not pursue it.
Eat wholesome, nutritious meals.
“Hey pastor, wanna seize breakfast this week?”
“Certain. The place and when.”
“7:00, [local house of sodium]”
Sound acquainted? Now add lunches and desk-drawer snacks.
Pastors can fall sufferer to the identical unhealthy consuming habits because the unhealthiest folks round. In a 2024 survey of pastors enrolled with Guidestone, 28% admitted their bodily well being isn’t what it needs to be. A 2020 survey of 560 pastors discovered solely 14% with a wholesome Physique Mass Index, with 46% of the respondents being overweight.
Maintaining a healthy diet is tough and consuming unhealthy is straightforward; that’s the foundation drawback of the American weight-reduction plan. The time—and value—of shopping for wholesome meals, making ready wholesome meals, and chopping down on unhealthy “treats” takes as a lot Spirit-controlled residing as conquering different components of our undisciplined lives.
Nevertheless it’s crucially essential that we take note of what we eat and make vital adjustments to our diets.
There isn’t any dearth of articles and books on gut-health, heart-health, wholesome meal prep, and balanced diets for each section of life. Take small steps if wanted; however take the steps.
If maintaining a healthy diet is a battle for you, see your physician to discover a path of correct vitamin. “Don’t,” as my former professor informed his class, “dig your grave together with your enamel.”
Make and maintain associates who invite and shield honesty.
For a lot of pastors, an absence of shut associates is inextricably linked to the loneliness referenced on the prime of this text. Trusted communication is the warp and woof of shut friendship, however could be a problem for pastors. The bonds of pastoral belief (or “sanctity” in some traditions) restrict a lot pastoral dialog to sports activities or different innocuous matters that keep away from revealing non-public info.
Pastors want associates with whom they are often fully open and trustworthy with no concern of being stabbed within the again or ignored within the chilly.
To be clear, there are occasions when a therapist or counselor is required. I don’t intend to say having associates will at all times clear up deep-seated challenges. Pastoral PTSD, as some have termed it, wants various coffees or a spherical of golf.
However having associates isn’t unimportant, both.
Pastors want associates who invite and shield honesty. Meaning folks you don’t decide your genuine struggles, present a wholesome place to unload and kind these struggles, and maintain private points confidential.
For me, it’s a textual content group of three pastors, one former pastor, and myself. We’ve by no means lived in the identical metropolis—we met on-line greater than 20 years in the past. I believe every of us would say, other than different associates we’ve got, that group is a protected area the place we every work out completely different features of our personal salvation with concern and trembling…however with out concern of leaked particulars.
I proceed to consider most pastors have a robust want to please God. They spend time within the Phrase, evangelize, minister, and pray. All these items are certainly included in what Paul referenced as his ministry with the church buildings. It’s all Kingdom work, however it will probably break you down. So take care to self-care. It isn’t egocentric; it’s godly.
Posted on June 18, 2025
Marty Duren is a author, editor, and writer in Nashville, TN. For a few years, he has served church buildings in Georgia and Tennessee in full- and part-time pastoral and volunteer alternatives. Marty is married to Sonya, the love of his life. Their 4 youngsters are grown; their two grandkids should not. They’ve a collie with PTSD and a cat with an angle. His newest ebook is The Disparate Ones: Essays on Being within the World however Not of the World (Missional Press). Attain Marty at freelance.martyduren.com, or join on Fb and Bluesky.
Extra from Marty
Pastoral survival could be a grim matter. Pastors cope with despair (18% of them, per Lifeway Analysis), loneliness (65% of all pastors in 2023), trauma, unrealistic expectations on pastoral households, and extra.
The lifetime of a hireling is simpler than the lifetime of a shepherd. Caring for sheep (and never a number of goats) is a life-giving endeavor. By that I imply shepherds give their lives for the sheep, simply as Jesus did.
Pastors develop mentally weary from sermon preparation; develop emotionally weary from bearing the burdens of the flock and their household; and bodily weary from burning the candle at each ends—and sometimes the center as effectively. Even when efficiently sustaining time alone with God, an energetic prayer life, and full belief in his plan, the battle to take care of self-care is actual.
I’ve by no means heard of pastors who deliberately put on themselves all the way down to nothing; it simply occurs. Listed here are 3 ways you may actively take part in your personal survival.
Get sufficient high quality sleep.
Sleep? What’s that?
One thing a variety of pastors don’t get sufficient of. “I’ll relaxation after I’m lifeless” isn’t biblical counsel.
Anecdotally, pastors work 45-60 hours every week. Self-imposed strain to check like Jonathan Edwards, minister like Amy Carmichael, write as a lot as John Piper, preach as deeply as Charles Spurgeon, and have influence like Martin Luther King, Jr makes for irregular schedules and irregular sleep.
I bear in mind one trip throughout my final full-time pastorate. I wasn’t conscious of being notably drained, however after I awoke the following morning I’d slept for 13 hours! I used to be past exhausted and didn’t even understand it. As many preachers have famous, there’s a motive Jesus fell asleep in a ship and needed to be rousted throughout a squall.
With few exceptions, adults want between seven and 9 hours of sleep every night time. And it isn’t solely the quantity of sleep you get, however the high quality of that sleep. With newborns within the residence, high quality sleep disappears for months. Younger youngsters needing consolation within the wee hours disrupt sleep. Teenagers can require sleeping with one eye open for years. Ageing is accompanied by in a single day toilet visits, usually a number of such journeys. It’s no marvel pastors don’t get sufficient high quality sleep.
However, “sleep high quality is important for our total well being. Analysis has proven that folks with poor sleep high quality are at the next threat for diabetes, coronary heart illness, stroke, and psychological well being points like nervousness and despair.” (Harvard Well being) High quality sleep being onerous to catch is not any motive to not pursue it.
Eat wholesome, nutritious meals.
“Hey pastor, wanna seize breakfast this week?”
“Certain. The place and when.”
“7:00, [local house of sodium]”
Sound acquainted? Now add lunches and desk-drawer snacks.
Pastors can fall sufferer to the identical unhealthy consuming habits because the unhealthiest folks round. In a 2024 survey of pastors enrolled with Guidestone, 28% admitted their bodily well being isn’t what it needs to be. A 2020 survey of 560 pastors discovered solely 14% with a wholesome Physique Mass Index, with 46% of the respondents being overweight.
Maintaining a healthy diet is tough and consuming unhealthy is straightforward; that’s the foundation drawback of the American weight-reduction plan. The time—and value—of shopping for wholesome meals, making ready wholesome meals, and chopping down on unhealthy “treats” takes as a lot Spirit-controlled residing as conquering different components of our undisciplined lives.
Nevertheless it’s crucially essential that we take note of what we eat and make vital adjustments to our diets.
There isn’t any dearth of articles and books on gut-health, heart-health, wholesome meal prep, and balanced diets for each section of life. Take small steps if wanted; however take the steps.
If maintaining a healthy diet is a battle for you, see your physician to discover a path of correct vitamin. “Don’t,” as my former professor informed his class, “dig your grave together with your enamel.”
Make and maintain associates who invite and shield honesty.
For a lot of pastors, an absence of shut associates is inextricably linked to the loneliness referenced on the prime of this text. Trusted communication is the warp and woof of shut friendship, however could be a problem for pastors. The bonds of pastoral belief (or “sanctity” in some traditions) restrict a lot pastoral dialog to sports activities or different innocuous matters that keep away from revealing non-public info.
Pastors want associates with whom they are often fully open and trustworthy with no concern of being stabbed within the again or ignored within the chilly.
To be clear, there are occasions when a therapist or counselor is required. I don’t intend to say having associates will at all times clear up deep-seated challenges. Pastoral PTSD, as some have termed it, wants various coffees or a spherical of golf.
However having associates isn’t unimportant, both.
Pastors want associates who invite and shield honesty. Meaning folks you don’t decide your genuine struggles, present a wholesome place to unload and kind these struggles, and maintain private points confidential.
For me, it’s a textual content group of three pastors, one former pastor, and myself. We’ve by no means lived in the identical metropolis—we met on-line greater than 20 years in the past. I believe every of us would say, other than different associates we’ve got, that group is a protected area the place we every work out completely different features of our personal salvation with concern and trembling…however with out concern of leaked particulars.
I proceed to consider most pastors have a robust want to please God. They spend time within the Phrase, evangelize, minister, and pray. All these items are certainly included in what Paul referenced as his ministry with the church buildings. It’s all Kingdom work, however it will probably break you down. So take care to self-care. It isn’t egocentric; it’s godly.
Posted on June 18, 2025
Marty Duren is a author, editor, and writer in Nashville, TN. For a few years, he has served church buildings in Georgia and Tennessee in full- and part-time pastoral and volunteer alternatives. Marty is married to Sonya, the love of his life. Their 4 youngsters are grown; their two grandkids should not. They’ve a collie with PTSD and a cat with an angle. His newest ebook is The Disparate Ones: Essays on Being within the World however Not of the World (Missional Press). Attain Marty at freelance.martyduren.com, or join on Fb and Bluesky.
Extra from Marty
Pastoral survival could be a grim matter. Pastors cope with despair (18% of them, per Lifeway Analysis), loneliness (65% of all pastors in 2023), trauma, unrealistic expectations on pastoral households, and extra.
The lifetime of a hireling is simpler than the lifetime of a shepherd. Caring for sheep (and never a number of goats) is a life-giving endeavor. By that I imply shepherds give their lives for the sheep, simply as Jesus did.
Pastors develop mentally weary from sermon preparation; develop emotionally weary from bearing the burdens of the flock and their household; and bodily weary from burning the candle at each ends—and sometimes the center as effectively. Even when efficiently sustaining time alone with God, an energetic prayer life, and full belief in his plan, the battle to take care of self-care is actual.
I’ve by no means heard of pastors who deliberately put on themselves all the way down to nothing; it simply occurs. Listed here are 3 ways you may actively take part in your personal survival.
Get sufficient high quality sleep.
Sleep? What’s that?
One thing a variety of pastors don’t get sufficient of. “I’ll relaxation after I’m lifeless” isn’t biblical counsel.
Anecdotally, pastors work 45-60 hours every week. Self-imposed strain to check like Jonathan Edwards, minister like Amy Carmichael, write as a lot as John Piper, preach as deeply as Charles Spurgeon, and have influence like Martin Luther King, Jr makes for irregular schedules and irregular sleep.
I bear in mind one trip throughout my final full-time pastorate. I wasn’t conscious of being notably drained, however after I awoke the following morning I’d slept for 13 hours! I used to be past exhausted and didn’t even understand it. As many preachers have famous, there’s a motive Jesus fell asleep in a ship and needed to be rousted throughout a squall.
With few exceptions, adults want between seven and 9 hours of sleep every night time. And it isn’t solely the quantity of sleep you get, however the high quality of that sleep. With newborns within the residence, high quality sleep disappears for months. Younger youngsters needing consolation within the wee hours disrupt sleep. Teenagers can require sleeping with one eye open for years. Ageing is accompanied by in a single day toilet visits, usually a number of such journeys. It’s no marvel pastors don’t get sufficient high quality sleep.
However, “sleep high quality is important for our total well being. Analysis has proven that folks with poor sleep high quality are at the next threat for diabetes, coronary heart illness, stroke, and psychological well being points like nervousness and despair.” (Harvard Well being) High quality sleep being onerous to catch is not any motive to not pursue it.
Eat wholesome, nutritious meals.
“Hey pastor, wanna seize breakfast this week?”
“Certain. The place and when.”
“7:00, [local house of sodium]”
Sound acquainted? Now add lunches and desk-drawer snacks.
Pastors can fall sufferer to the identical unhealthy consuming habits because the unhealthiest folks round. In a 2024 survey of pastors enrolled with Guidestone, 28% admitted their bodily well being isn’t what it needs to be. A 2020 survey of 560 pastors discovered solely 14% with a wholesome Physique Mass Index, with 46% of the respondents being overweight.
Maintaining a healthy diet is tough and consuming unhealthy is straightforward; that’s the foundation drawback of the American weight-reduction plan. The time—and value—of shopping for wholesome meals, making ready wholesome meals, and chopping down on unhealthy “treats” takes as a lot Spirit-controlled residing as conquering different components of our undisciplined lives.
Nevertheless it’s crucially essential that we take note of what we eat and make vital adjustments to our diets.
There isn’t any dearth of articles and books on gut-health, heart-health, wholesome meal prep, and balanced diets for each section of life. Take small steps if wanted; however take the steps.
If maintaining a healthy diet is a battle for you, see your physician to discover a path of correct vitamin. “Don’t,” as my former professor informed his class, “dig your grave together with your enamel.”
Make and maintain associates who invite and shield honesty.
For a lot of pastors, an absence of shut associates is inextricably linked to the loneliness referenced on the prime of this text. Trusted communication is the warp and woof of shut friendship, however could be a problem for pastors. The bonds of pastoral belief (or “sanctity” in some traditions) restrict a lot pastoral dialog to sports activities or different innocuous matters that keep away from revealing non-public info.
Pastors want associates with whom they are often fully open and trustworthy with no concern of being stabbed within the again or ignored within the chilly.
To be clear, there are occasions when a therapist or counselor is required. I don’t intend to say having associates will at all times clear up deep-seated challenges. Pastoral PTSD, as some have termed it, wants various coffees or a spherical of golf.
However having associates isn’t unimportant, both.
Pastors want associates who invite and shield honesty. Meaning folks you don’t decide your genuine struggles, present a wholesome place to unload and kind these struggles, and maintain private points confidential.
For me, it’s a textual content group of three pastors, one former pastor, and myself. We’ve by no means lived in the identical metropolis—we met on-line greater than 20 years in the past. I believe every of us would say, other than different associates we’ve got, that group is a protected area the place we every work out completely different features of our personal salvation with concern and trembling…however with out concern of leaked particulars.
I proceed to consider most pastors have a robust want to please God. They spend time within the Phrase, evangelize, minister, and pray. All these items are certainly included in what Paul referenced as his ministry with the church buildings. It’s all Kingdom work, however it will probably break you down. So take care to self-care. It isn’t egocentric; it’s godly.
Posted on June 18, 2025
Marty Duren is a author, editor, and writer in Nashville, TN. For a few years, he has served church buildings in Georgia and Tennessee in full- and part-time pastoral and volunteer alternatives. Marty is married to Sonya, the love of his life. Their 4 youngsters are grown; their two grandkids should not. They’ve a collie with PTSD and a cat with an angle. His newest ebook is The Disparate Ones: Essays on Being within the World however Not of the World (Missional Press). Attain Marty at freelance.martyduren.com, or join on Fb and Bluesky.
Extra from Marty
