As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Read Part 1.
Does self-care have any place in a pastor’s life? Viewed solely from a worldly perspective, it’s questionable. But through a biblical lens, self-care resembles the biblical concept of stewardship.
Self-care sounds like man-centered psychobabble. It feels inherently selfish, contradicting biblical concepts such as self-denial and self-sacrifice. Why would a ministry-minded Christian pay special attention to himself or herself?
Let’s learn what self-care is, then see if any part aligns with Scripture. Perhaps it belongs on the trash pile of worldly philosophies. Or possibly common grace has made mankind instinctively conscious of a healthy practice.
“If done well, a pastor’s sabbatical will glorify God as they come back eager to be a blessing to their family, church, and community….Here are five steps I encourage pastors to use to help their church implement sabbaticals.” - Lifeway
“…two issues that hinder people from finishing well. The first is disappointment over what they have experienced…. The second issue is insecurity — a feeling of inadequacy that triggers harmful attitudes, actions, and lifestyles.” - Desiring God
“Smile on face. Energy in eyes. Hair in place. Face of happiness … something I had refined over many years. Heart wounded. Mind and body tired. Soul empty.” - CPost
“When I do church consulting, I often encounter pastors who are just worn out… I usually learn that the battle had been ongoing long before I arrived to consult. Indeed, some of the following signs seem to be recurrent among wearying shepherds.” - Chuck Lawless
“While 14 percent said they were ‘less confident’ in 2022, just 9 percent now say the same. Notably, these numbers are strong among both men (51%) and women (53%), as well as pastors over 45 (52%) and under 45 (50%).” - Barna
“Seasons of discouragement are inevitable for any gospel minister. It comes with the territory. But I learned something else in 44 years of pastoral ministry: the Lord uses seasons of discouragement as seasons of growth.” - TGC
“When asked, ‘Have you given real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time ministry within the last year?’ 29 percent said yes in January 2021. A year and a half later, 41 percent said yes.” - Denison
“The report… documents the growing number of American clergy who are burned out and have considered leaving either their current congregation — 44% — or the profession itself — more than half (53%). The latter figure represents an increase of 16% since 2021.” - RNS
Discussion