The Crisis of Burnout: The Ministry Epidemic

I remember sitting across from a pastor—let’s call him Mark—during my research on burnout in ministry leaders. He had been in ministry for over a decade, faithfully shepherding his congregation. His preaching was strong, his leadership respected, and his church had grown. From the outside, everything looked like success.

But as he spoke, there was a hollowness in his voice.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with me,” he admitted. “I used to love preaching. I used to love shepherding. But now? I just feel numb. I keep showing up because I have to, but I don’t have anything left to give.”

For months, he had been waking up at three in the morning, his mind racing with sermon ideas, church conflicts, financial concerns, and the constant pressure to do more. His body was breaking down—headaches, fatigue, weight gain. His wife noticed how distant he had become, how his patience had grown thin, how his joy had been replaced with frustration. Church members who once brought him excitement now drained him. He had stopped feeling.

He laughed when I asked if he had taken a real break recently.

“A break? If I step away, who’s going to keep everything together?”

He was convinced his church needed him more than he needed rest.

The Silent Struggle of Burnout

Mark’s story is not unique. His words echo the experience of countless pastors who find themselves running on empty. Burnout is not an isolated struggle—it’s an epidemic.

Ministry burnout isn’t just exhaustion that can be fixed with a day off. It is a soul-weariness that no amount of sleep or vacation can fully restore. Burnout is defined as the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually due to prolonged stress or frustration. Researchers have identified three common characteristics of burnout:

• Emotional exhaustion – When compassion dries up and people become obligations rather than souls to shepherd.
• Physical exhaustion – Disrupted sleep, unhealthy eating habits, and a body worn down by stress.
• Loss of meaning – When ministry stops feeling like a calling and starts feeling like a burden.

This reality is more than theoretical. According to Barna’s research, 42% of pastors have seriously considered leaving full-time ministry in the past year, citing overwhelming stress, loneliness, and political division as reasons.

Pastoral burnout affects more than just the individual—it impacts families, churches, and entire communities. Some leaders collapse under the weight of exhaustion, some grow resentful, and others walk away altogether.

Burnout in the Bible

The burden of ministry is not a modern phenomenon. Even in Scripture, some of God’s greatest servants struggled with the weight of their calling.

Moses: Overwhelmed by Leadership

Moses understood what it meant to be overwhelmed. Day after day, he was the sole judge of disputes, the go-to counselor, the decision-maker for an entire nation. The stress was crushing him. His father-in-law, Jethro, saw it and confronted him:

“What you are doing is not good. You will surely wear yourself out, you and these people with you, for the thing is too heavy for you.” (Exodus 18:17-18, ESV)

Moses had convinced himself that faithfulness required carrying it all alone. But God’s answer wasn’t to push through—it was to delegate, share the burden, and create sustainable leadership.

Elijah: Exhausted and Hopeless

Elijah’s story is just as striking. After witnessing fire fall from heaven and defeating the prophets of Baal, he ran for his life, exhausted and afraid. His triumph quickly turned into despair.

“It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life.” (1 Kings 19:4, ESV)

Elijah had poured everything into ministry and now felt utterly alone. His burnout was not just about exhaustion but about a loss of purpose. Notice how God responded—He didn’t rebuke Elijah for his weakness. Instead, He let him rest, provided food, and spoke truth into his heart.

God’s answer was renewal, not reprimand.

Why So Many Pastors Burn Out

Many pastors today resemble Moses and Elijah—completely exhausted yet unsure of what to do next. They may even believe that stepping back would equate to failure. In reality, their exhaustion is a warning sign.

Some of the most common causes of burnout stem from misplaced priorities and expectations:

1. Overcommitment disguised as faithfulness – Many pastors believe that saying no is selfish, so they fill every role, counsel every person, and refuse to step away, fearing their church will fall apart without them.
2. Unrealistic expectations – Modern church culture demands more than ever: constant availability, leadership in multiple areas, and never-ending emotional labor.
3. A broken system, not just an individual problem – Burnout isn’t just a personal struggle; it’s often the result of an unhealthy ministry culture that prioritizes output over soul care.

Burnout as Erosion

Christian Maslach and Michael Leiter, leading researchers in burnout studies, describe burnout as an “erosion.” In my discussions with ministry leaders, that word resonated deeply.

Burnout is not a sudden collapse; it’s a slow wearing away—constant exposure to stress, an unrelenting workload, a steady pressure that chips away at passion, energy, and faith.

Many pastors don’t see it coming until they feel completely depleted. Worse, they often feel unsupported in preventing it.

Moving Toward a Resilient Ministry

Burnout has become a catastrophic issue for many pastors and ministry leaders. But it doesn’t have to be inevitable.

Over the next several posts, I’ll be sharing practical wisdom from my research and biblical study to help you:

• Recognize the early warning signs of burnout
• Establish rhythms of rest that don’t compromise ministry
• Build a sustainable, long-term approach to leadership
• Shift from surviving ministry to thriving in it

Burnout in ministry is not a foregone conclusion. You can create a healthier, thriving, and resilient version of yourself, but it takes intentionality, wisdom, and courage.

As the old saying goes:

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Don’t wait until you’re one foot out the door. Follow along, and together, we’ll build a ministry life that leaves you encouraged, refreshed, and ready to serve the Lord for the long haul.