By Jay Strother
I’ve learned something over the years: ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. We often overestimate what can be done in a year but underestimate what God can accomplish through a decade of everyday faithfulness. That’s why building a sustainable pace isn’t optional—it’s essential for pastors and church leaders who want to finish well.
Recognize the Signs of Overload
Paul wrote about the “daily pressure of leading the churches” (2 Cor. 11:28). If you’ve been in ministry long enough, you know that weight—the never-ending emails, hospital visits, and constant need for volunteers. When irritability creeps in or joy begins to fade, those are warning lights on the dashboard of your soul. Don’t ignore them. They’re God’s invitation to slow down and return to Him.
Establish Boundaries Without Guilt
One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that saying yes to everything means saying no to the people and practices that matter most. Protecting time for family, prayer, rest, and personal renewal isn’t selfish—it’s faithful stewardship. Jesus Himself often withdrew to lonely places to pray. If the Son of God needed space with His Father, how much more do we?
Embrace Healthy Rhythms
Sabbath isn’t a suggestion; it’s a gift. Find a rhythm of work and rest that allows you to minister out of the overflow of your relationship with Christ. For me, that looks like consistent time in Scripture and prayer, space for family dinners and conversation, and even hobbies that restore energy instead of draining it. Ministry flows best when it’s rooted in a life that’s full, not frantic.
Lead by Example
Your team and congregation will follow the rhythms you model. If you never stop, they’ll assume faithfulness equals exhaustion. But when you show what it looks like to rest in God’s strength, you’re discipling them in a way that goes beyond strategy or programs. Healthy leaders form healthy churches.
Trust God with the Gaps
Here’s the hardest truth to accept: you are not the savior of your church. Jesus is. We plant, we water, we labor—but only God gives the growth (1 Cor. 3:6). Trust Him with the gaps. Release the pressure to do it all, and rest in the confidence that He is faithful, even when you are weary.
Long-term ministry isn’t about running faster—it’s about running faithfully. Build a pace you can sustain, and trust the One who called you to carry you through.
Jay Strother is the Senior Pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church and a host of the Sermon Notes podcast. He is committed to fueling disciple-making and church-multiplying movements in Middle Tennessee and beyond, equipping believers to share the gospel, serve their communities, and strengthen a growing network of churches.
Want to go deeper? Check out the Elevate Podcast episode Encouragement for Pastors: Overcoming Discouragement and Finding Faithfulness in Ministry. In this conversation, Jay Strother and Aaron Bryant talk candidly about the challenges of discouragement, the call to everyday faithfulness, and the sustaining power of biblical community. You’ll be reminded that you’re not alone—and that God is always at work, even when you can’t see it.
