“In case there is a loss in cabin pressure, yellow oxygen masks will deploy from the ceiling compartment located above you. Please secure your own mask before assisting others around you”.
If you’re like me, you’ve heard this so many times that you tune it out and put your headphones in as soon as you get on a plane. This seems like common sense, but if it were, it wouldn’t need to be stated on every single flight.
I’m the sort of person that this reminder was made for. When trouble comes, I jump into action. I think most leaders operate this way. It’s in our DNA to be helpful, solution-driven and to give of ourselves for the sake of others.
I’ve watched this play out in real time through COVID-19. When the virus first spread and churches were forced to close, society and the church felt like it was losing cabin pressure. The yellow oxygen masks were deployed, but too many leaders brushed past them in the name of productivity and ingenuity. You’ve probably said or heard others say, “we’re actually busier than normal right now”. Busy isn’t bad, but if it comes at the expense of our own mental, physical, spiritual, and emotional health then we’re putting ourselves in a position where soon, we won’t be able to help anyone.
One of my personal biggest worries though COVID-19 is ministerial burnout. The reality is, there’s no handbook for this. They don’t offer a class on “How to lead through a global pandemic while being chased by murder hornets and no toilet paper to be found”. For the sake of our own wellbeing, I want to share some simple reminders. Please resist the urge to through your headphones in and ignore the message because it’s familiar.
1) Maintain a rhythm of rest: One definition of rest is “to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor.” Rest isn’t necessarily lying on a couch scrolling through social media or binge-watching a favorite show on Netflix, though at times that can be relaxing for some. Rest is relieving yourself of all labor and responsibilities for the sake of a mental exhale. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been on the couch watching a show with my wife, trying to relax, but I end it more tired than when we started it because the whole time we were watching the show, my mind was wandering through the next “thing” I had to do. Rest isn’t just the absence of work, it’s also mentally erasing the white board in your head. When you establish what rest looks like for you, the next step is to inform the people around. It’s okay to say, “between these hours I’m unreachable”. By sharing this with those that work with you, you’re simultaneously communicating to them an expectation for them to rest as well which will keep your team healthy.
2) Resist Comparison: One of the downsides of social media is that it drastically increases the temptation to compare ourselves to others. There is always somebody that seemingly looks like they are doing things better than we are. Now that the world is relying on online platforms, this is true more than ever. It’s easy to see what another church is doing and to think “I wish we could do that”. It’s easy to look at an idea that someone else has and think “I wish I was as creative as them”. The reality is this, the God of the universe has called and equipped you to be exactly where you are right now. When you get caught up in comparison, you start to drift out of the lane God placed you in. Craig Groeschel says “The fastest way to kill something special is to compare it to something else”. Walk in the authority of who God has called you to be. The time you spend comparing takes away from the time you could’ve been working the ground God gave you.
3) Remember your place: If we aren’t careful, we can adopt this mentality that the spiritual well-being of our people rests solely on us. We certainly have a part to play in helping people know God, but as much as we want to see them grow, God wants it even more. He’s consistently pursuing them and speaking to them. We don’t work FOR God, we work WITH God. God isn’t a boss that we have to please through meeting a quota or performance reviews. We work with him and trust that as we care for his people, the Spirit is also drawing them to the Father. Reminding ourselves of this frequently will alleviate the burden of feeling like it’s all on us. God wants to use you, not abuse you.
4) Journal like never before: If you’re someone that’s never journaled, now is a great time to start. If you do already, do it even more. God is speaking in this season. He’s speaking to the church at large and to us individually. Maybe during this season God is revealing new passions in you or reviving old dreams. Maybe God is confirming his calling on your life or exposing parts of you that he wants to work in. Whatever he’s speaking, don’t let it go to waste. One of the quickest ways to remain passionate about what God has called you to do is to stay in tune with what he’s speaking to you. The voice of God will always be a place of refuge and comfort. Don’t become so busy speaking for God that you tune out what he’s trying to speak to you.
Again, there’s nothing groundbreaking or earth shattering here. These are simple truths that will help you lead well through times of adversity. As we begin to transition into a new normal, let’s not be leaders that limp across the finish line. Like well-seasoned runners, let’s cross the line with our heads held high and wind still in our sails because we’ve paced ourselves for the long haul. The better care we take of ourselves, the better care we can take of our people and all that God has trusted us with.Go in peace!
Chris Davis | Youth Pastor
Eastern Assembly of God