By Dr. Floyd Godfrey

Burnout in ministry is a subject that too often remains hidden behind church doors, veiled by smiles and Sunday sermons. For more than 25 years, I’ve worked alongside church leaders from various denominations and backgrounds. I’ve sat with them in moments of transparency, watched the fatigue build over time, and witnessed how the emotional and spiritual demands of ministry often outpace their capacity to recover. The result is not just physical exhaustion, it is a slow erosion of joy, clarity, and spiritual vitality.

Wayne Cordeiro (2009), in his book Leading on Empty, speaks from his own deeply personal journey through burnout and depression. He writes, “I was expected to lead on empty,” a phrase that resonates with countless pastors who feel pressured to keep producing even when their spiritual tanks are dry (p. 34). The expectations, whether external or self-imposed, can become relentless. Ministry is often portrayed as a noble calling, but it is rarely acknowledged that this noble work can lead to a very human collapse.

In the same chapter, Cordeiro shares, “It was no one's fault. That's just how we're wired, and if we don't rewire things, we burn out the circuit board. I was fixing everybody's problems except my own, and I needed time to replenish my spirit” (p. 34). These words reflect the reality that pastors are caretakers of others' pain, often neglecting their own. I’ve worked with pastors who knew how to counsel the grieving, lead the lost, and inspire the weary, yet felt lost themselves, unable to name their own needs without guilt or shame.

The emotional toll of prolonged stress is significant. “Long-term stress is a predecessor to depression,” Cordeiro (2009) reminds us (p. 51). Over the years, I’ve observed this slow fade many times: a pastor begins skipping their own devotionals, loses interest in preaching, withdraws from family, and becomes irritable or discouraged. These symptoms are not signs of failure; they are signs of overload.

Perhaps even more isolating is the mistaken belief that Christians, and especially Christian leaders, should be immune to such struggles. Cordeiro confronts this stigma directly: “This question reveals a common, unspoken, and inaccurate assumption: Christians are not supposed to struggle with depression,” (p. 45). The truth is, “No one is immune from the slow grip of depression when they are wrestling through a season of burnout,” (p. 44). We need to tear down the myth that pastors should be spiritually invincible. God never asked His shepherds to live without limits; in fact, the rhythm of rest was built into creation itself.

If you are a pastor today and you’re feeling the signs of burnout, like spiritual dryness, emotional detachment, or even depression, please know you’re not alone. You are not defective. You are not faithless. You are tired. And you need replenishment, not rebuke.

The path to recovery begins by acknowledging your humanity and creating space to rest and reconnect with the Lord. Find someone safe to talk to. Step away when necessary. Establish rhythms of Sabbath and spiritual solitude. As Cordeiro’s journey reminds us, recovery is possible, but it requires courage to pause and permission to heal.

To churches and leadership teams: care for your pastors. Offer time away, provide counseling resources, and avoid setting expectations that foster isolation or perfectionism. A pastor’s health is not just about what they do from the pulpit; it’s about who they are in private.

We must begin to see pastoral wellness not as a luxury, but as a necessity for long-term, Spirit-led leadership.

Floyd Godfrey PhD is a Board Certified Christian Counselor and has facilitated groups within different churches and denominations over the past 30 years. He worked as a licensed clinician for 23 years and provided supervision and training for other counselors as they worked toward independent licensure. You can read more about Floyd Godfrey PhD at www.FloydGodfrey.com.

References
Cordeiro, W. (2009). Leading on empty: Refilling your tank and renewing your passion. Bethany House Publishers.