4 Steps to Cultivating Pastor Resilience

How to take care of yourself as you care for others.

Your church and community need your help now more than ever because of COVID-19. But they are also going to need you later, too. You probably already realize this, but you are in the middle of a marathon, not a sprint.

If you are going to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith (2 Tim. 4:7), you are going to have to make sure there’s enough in the “tank” to reach the finish line. Following are some steps you can take to help keep you from burning out. Don’t just take our word for it. Below are some lessons from pastors who went through Hurricane Katrina.

Hold on to faith

You’ve probably preached numerous sermons encouraging others to remember that God is with them even in times of trouble. Now is the time to practice what you preach. Set aside special times for prayer, especially in the moments when you feel you don’t have time to pray.

In those difficult times, we need prayer the most. As I’ve written before, “We must be reminded of the simple truth—keep praying and talking to God when crisis hits. Strive for meaning through journaling, prayer, Scripture reading, and conversations with those you trust.”

Seek social support

A common struggle I’ve heard from pastors around the globe amidst disasters like the current pandemic is a tendency to withdraw socially because of the pressure they feel to “keep it all together.” Granted, during COVID-19 you need to be physically distancing, but it doesn’t mean you should isolate yourself relationally. Don’t hesitate to reach out to others for support.

Be sure to take time out when you can to recharge by spending time with those you care about, with those you are staying at home with, ...