Tag: rest

  • Letter #33 (Take a Break)

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         We tell our people not to over-do-it.  We tell them to pace themselves.  We tell them there are only twenty-four hours in a day.  We tell them they need to take a break for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health.  But do we ever take a break ourselves?

         When was the last time you turned off your phone, sat down on your front porch or in the back yard and did nothing except enjoy God and His nature?  Think about this for a moment—how many times have you seen people sitting in those nice rocking chairs on front porches near where you live?  What about the gazebos in the yards—do you see people relaxing in them on any kind of regular basis?  Pastors are apparently not the only ones who need to stop to take a break regularly.

         I broach this topic out of personal destructive experience from my own ministry.  There were times when I was working so much, talking so much, researching so much and attempting to fulfill all those expectations that exist for people in ministry so much that I never really rested.  Oh, I took an occasional nap, but genuine, stop-everything rest, simply did not occur.

         I don’t know that I can determine the exact day and time that I fully understood the significance of the term “Sabbath.”  I can’t tell you which message I prepared that led me to internalize the importance of rest.  I don’t remember which guest speaker at a ministerial meeting caught my attention about resting.  I just know the Holy Spirit was able to finally impress on me that when God said, “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy,” He meant it.

         Remember that Jesus told the pharisees that the Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around.  Jesus purposely healed on the Sabbath just to indicate that He was Lord of the Sabbath, as well as any other day.  He also pointed out that David took sacred bread to feed his companions and the priests work making sacrifices in the temple on the Sabbath.  I believe He did that to point out that all the rules and requirements that had been established by traditional teaching had burdened people into not being able to function properly on the day of rest.  In addition to this, Jesus attempted to get the disciples away from the crowds and ministering more than once in order for them to get away for some rest.

         I had to come to grips with the concept that those in ministry, the pastors and spiritual leaders among us, need rest just like everyone else needs it.  I had to finally decide to take a break, not just take a nap.  And that break needed to occur on a regular, weekly basis.  It had to be a “day off” from ministry.

         I understand the pressure of being on-call 24/7.  But I also understand what burn out is.  I also grasp that a tired—no–an exhausted pastor is an ineffective pastor.  A drained pastor, someone who has given and given until there is little left to give, will make mistakes, will not notice spiritual ailments in his flock, will not be as alert and on the defense and offense as is needed to maintain growth in his flock.

         Some pastors I know who have reached the same realization about rest take a day during the week to focus on their personal Sabbath.  Others take a day off occasionally during the month.  Still others take a day off once a quarter.  The ones who do not rest weekly are short-changing themselves, in my opinion.  They’re not actually resting on a sustainable basis.

         Remember that you are not indispensable.  If your congregation collapses because you take a Sabbath’s rest, then you are not leading a church.  You are leading something else completely.  And that something else will not fulfill the call God has placed on your life, because it will demand you take a road that only leads to self-destruction.

         As Jethro might have said to his son-in-law Moses—don’t you have anyone who is wise enough to help you take care of business if you’re not there for one day a week?  Moses needed some relief.  Jesus and the disciples needed some relief.  You need some relief, too.

         Allow me to encourage you to delegate some authority to your leaders while you take a day of rest for your own spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health.  Fight the urge to call them to see if they need you.  Actually set your phone aside.  Observe a Sabbath weekly.  Take a load off your shoulders for a day, and your feet, too.  Take a break!

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor

  • Letter #21–Rest

    Dear Small Church Pastor,

         Rest, ah, rest.  What an elusive term for the small church pastor.  As the one person who is tasked with making sure the congregation moves forward, you are often placed in the position of never getting any rest.  Or at least that seems to be the case.  However, I assure you that rest is possible, and I also assure you that it is necessary if you want to maintain your health—physically, mentally, emotionally and especially, spiritually.

         I know the temptation to not stop.  I completely understand the pressures that come from all sides.  I have already been down that street and have long ago used that t-shirt for a grease rag.

         Your personal rest is probably more important to the health of your congregation than you realize.  If the shepherd is exhausted, the sheep will not be cared for as much as they should be.  The best pasture or safest watering hole may be overlooked.  The wolves might even begin to draw near to the sheepfold because the shepherd is not as alert as possible and may not be completely aware of what’s happening in the surroundings of the flock.

         You know about and have probably taught your people the need for the Sabbath’s rest in their lives.  I admonish you to walk your own talk in this matter.  You must—YOU MUST—get regular rest.  You need it just as much as they do.  Just like your congregants, if you are tired all the time, you will not be at the top of your game as their pastor.  Again–You must get regular rest.

         Now, how can you accomplish that?  First, go back and re-read Letter #1.  Next, make up your mind that you are going to get some regular rest.  (You won’t take action unless you decide to take action.)  Then, with all the love and grace you can muster, tell your congregation which day of the week you have chosen for your day of rest.  Finally, take it!

         Arrange for one or two of your leaders to handle necessary items on your day of rest.  Let the people know who they should call on your day of rest, and place your trust in them to be leaders that day.  I promise you, the church will not disintegrate if you take a day off.  If an emergency arises, deal with it if you absolutely have to, and then go back to your rest.  (Even an ox that had fallen into a ditch was rescued on the Sabbath.) 

         Let your day of rest be a special day when you relax, refresh your own relationship with God and enjoy the simple pleasures of family and friends.  Take a nap or two.  Turn off the screens—all of them—and sit in the yard or on your porch with a glass of tea or a cup of coffee and let the ice melt and the cup get cold as you take in all the majesty of the world God has created. 

         Open your mind to listen to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to you in the silence.  Pick up that book you’ve been meaning to start and start it.  If you’re a fast reader, you might even finish it in one day.  Listen to some good music without answering the phone.  Make some homemade ice cream and gather your family to enjoy your creation. 

         As you enjoy this day of rest, focus on doing things you know will calm your mental, emotional and spiritual self.  Avoid things that make you feel more physically tired at the end of the day than they are worth.  Remember, this is a day to rejuvenate yourself in every area of your life.

         You may be saying to yourself that you don’t see how it is possible you could take a Sabbath’s rest during the week.  You’re wrong in that thought.  My friend, you are not the one who is in ultimate control of this universe.  If your church falls apart because you are not present for one day a week, then the place you call “church” is not being built by Jesus.  I don’t mean to sound hard here, but no one person is completely indispensable to a congregation every day of the week. 

         You can set aside a day, and you need to do so, because you won’t last in ministry if you don’t get the rest you need.  You’ll burn out.  You’ll be consumed by the responsibilities and pressures.  You’ll find yourself resenting the phone calls and texts.  You’ll begin to wonder if you really were called into ministry as you become more and more exhausted from all the activities and questions and crises and problems and meetings—all that everything stuff.

         This letter is a little longer than most, but you need to understand just how important getting a day of rest is to your ministry.  Your enthusiasm will be re-energized.  Your clarity in thought will become focused again.  Your commitment to God’s work will be renewed.  Your emotions will come under control.  Your spirit will be built up by God’s spirit.  Your body will not feel as worn out.  Your whole self will be a better person for the people who follow your guidance as their shepherd.

         “Remember the Sabbath day.”  Rest.

    Sincerely,

    A Small Church Pastor