Leading from Wholeness: Caring for Your Soul in Ministry
Ministry is one of the most rewarding and impactful callings, but it’s also one of the most demanding. Whether you’re a youth pastor, spiritual director, or volunteer leader, the pressure to perform and produce results can often overshadow the importance of caring for your own spiritual health and soul care. In a culture that values busyness and success, many ministry leaders struggle to balance the call to serve with the need to rest and recharge. But here’s the truth: you can’t pour into others when you’re running on empty.
In a recent episode of the Rethinking Youth Ministry Podcast, a panel of ministry leaders and spiritual directors shared their personal experiences, practical insights, and hard-learned lessons about the importance of leading from a place of spiritual wholeness. Let’s dive into the key takeaways and discover how you can thrive in ministry while nurturing your own soul.
The Pressure to Perform
One of the most significant challenges in ministry today is the expectation to perform constantly. Leaders often measure their success by attendance numbers, social media engagement, or the size of their events. While these metrics have their place, they don’t tell the whole story.
As one guest on the podcast shared, “I’ve experienced seasons where everything on the surface looked great—worship was thriving, retreats were full, and students were showing up—but internally, I was completely burned out. I felt like I was working for God, but I wasn’t with God.”
This performance-driven mindset can lead to dangerous cycles of overwork and emotional exhaustion. It reminds us that ministry success should never come at the cost of our spiritual health.
Does Your Spiritual Health Really Matter?
The short answer? Yes. Your spiritual health not only impacts you but also the people you lead. If you’re spiritually unhealthy, you’ll struggle to guide others to a place of depth and connection with God.
“You can’t lead others to a healthy place if you’re spiritually empty,” one panelist explained. “Eventually, your inner life will show outwardly, and the fruit you’re producing will reflect what’s happening in your soul.”
This truth challenges the notion that external success can compensate for internal struggles. Instead, it invites leaders to reimagine ministry success as more than just numbers and outcomes. True success is leading from a place of spiritual wholeness.
Practical Ways to Care for Your Soul
Caring for your spiritual health doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are some practical steps shared during the podcast to help you nurture your soul while staying engaged in ministry:
1. Embrace Limits and Set Boundaries
One of the most profound realizations for ministry leaders is that they are not limitless. Recognizing your limitations is an act of humility and trust in God.
“As leaders, we often feel like we have to be everything to everyone,” a guest shared. “But acknowledging our limits reminds us that we’re not the Creator—we’re created beings with boundaries.”
Setting boundaries might look like:
- Saying no to overcommitting your schedule.
- Creating non-negotiable times for rest and family.
- Protecting your Sabbath as a sacred day for rejuvenation.
2. Simplify Your Calendar
Ministry leaders often feel compelled to plan events around every cultural holiday or trend. But this can lead to burnout and rob you of time for personal rest and relationships.
“Stop trying to create a youth group event for every holiday,” one panelist advised. “Let students spend time with their families and use those moments to rest and recharge.”
Focusing on fewer, more intentional events can create a healthier rhythm for both you and the students you serve.
3. Develop Daily Rhythms
Spiritual health isn’t just about big retreats or sabbaticals. It’s cultivated through consistent, small practices in your everyday life. Here are a few ideas:
- Prayer: Experiment with different prayer practices to find what resonates with you. Whether it’s silent meditation, guided prayers, or journaling, creating a daily rhythm of prayer can deepen your connection with God.
- Silence and Solitude: While it may feel uncomfortable initially, carving out moments of stillness allows you to hear God’s voice more clearly.
- Mindfulness: Pay attention to the simple, ordinary moments of life. Whether enjoying a cup of coffee, walking around your neighborhood, or watching the sunrise, these moments can become sacred when approached with intention.
4. Lean Into Community
Ministry can often feel isolating, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Surround yourself with trusted friends, mentors, or spiritual directors who can support and hold you accountable.
“Invite people into your life who will ask the hard questions,” a panelist shared. “Like, ‘When was the last time you took a day off?’ or ‘How are you really doing?’”
Community provides perspective, encouragement, and the reminder that you’re not alone in this journey.
5. Redefine Ministry Success
One of the most challenging but liberating takeaways from the episode was the call to redefine what success looks like in ministry.
“If your perspective of ministry success doesn’t change as you prioritize your spiritual health, you’re going to struggle,” a panelist said. “True success is about longevity and leading from a place of wholeness, not just achieving short-term results.”
This shift requires courage, as it often goes against cultural expectations. But it’s essential for sustaining a healthy, impactful ministry.
Overcoming Resistance
As you begin implementing these practices, you may encounter resistance—both from others and within yourself. Perhaps you’ve internalized the idea that rest equals laziness or that slowing down will lead to failure. These beliefs can be hard to shake.
“Pay attention to your resistance,” one guest advised. “What’s behind it? What fears or assumptions are holding you back from creating space for your spiritual health?”
By leaning into these questions, you can uncover the deeper issues that keep you stuck and invite God’s healing into those areas.
An Invitation to Lean In
At its core, caring for your spiritual health is about leaning into God’s love. It’s about creating space to be with Him, not just work for Him. As one panelist beautifully summarized, “God is already present in your places of vulnerability and need. When you lean into those moments, you’ll discover that He’s been there all along.”
So, as you head into a new season of ministry, take time to pause, reflect, and make your own spiritual health a priority. Whether setting boundaries, simplifying your calendar, or practicing daily rhythms of prayer and rest, remember that leading from wholeness is the greatest gift you can offer to those you serve.
You are not what you produce. You are God’s beloved—and that is more than enough.Listen to the full episode of the Rethinking Youth Ministry podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify today.