Being a leader is tough
Being a leader is tough. Being a leader in ministry feels tougher. Sometimes it’s too tough.
People asking you for more of “your” time.
You need to have another hard conversation with a person on your team.
A family tragedy happens and you step in to comfort the hurting.
Another last minute project from your pastor comes into your inbox to be implemented by Sunday!
Now sometimes these aren’t the regular circumstances. But sometimes, they are completely normal and routine. If this seems like a normal occurrence, like you are struggling to find breathing room, all the time, then here are a few pieces of advice.
Evaluate how you are using your time
How did you spend the last week? How did you spend your time yesterday? Seriously, write down how you spent every minute of your day. Are you spending it well?
“Teach me to number my days, so that I may gain a heart of wisdom”
After you write your time down, ask yourself a few questions:
Am I living by my priorities?
How much time am I wasting?
Do I feel like I’m in control of my own time?
Take a Day off
That’s right! Your ministry will continue to operate without you.
Take an intentional day of rest to get your mind and your spirit back on track. You’ll need to make sure that your day off consists of some prayer and reflection.
Here’s some passages to reflect on while you are off:
Psalm 1, Psalm 90, Psalm 119, Proverbs 3, John 15:1-17
These passages describe our need for dependence on God and remind us of the rest available to us through Christ. They also remind us of the method to do effective ministry. Often a break is what we need in order to truly refresh our hearts and feel in control of our time again.
Ask for Help
Sometimes it’s as simple as asking someone for help. I know that it’s not glamorous and it’s definitely not what a “leader” does. But it’s sometimes the most helpful thing that we can do. One of my pet peeves is someone explaining how hard something is because, “I have never done this before”. First, praise God for new opportunities! Second, ask the folks that God has surrounded you with if they have had any experience in your situation.
Here are some of the best ways you can get help.
Ask some families to volunteer and help share the burden of leading your ministry.
Ask your senior pastor for direction and prayer.
Ask your mentor for advice.
Ask your spouse for help and support.
Ask your small group to brainstorm some action steps with you.
Hire a coach (if you are interested in this drop me a comment below or reach out through the contact page of this site!)
So those are a few steps to help you get started. Make sure that you take action. The worst thing you can do is to not do anything. Get help and start a new routine with more margin and boundaries than before.
What do you do by default when you feel overwhelmed?
