Burnout

Barna recently published the results of a study on pastoral burnout. Some of the findings are encouraging, but others are not. They note “Pastoral exhaustion is down. Confidence in one’s calling has largely rebounded from its pandemic low. What has not recovered is deeper vocational satisfaction.” But what came to my mind was that these findings aren’t entirely unique to pastoral ministry. There are similarities in other forms of Christian ministry as well as in secular employment.

Another article from earlier this year states, “Workplace burnout has reached a six-year high in the United States, and the employee burnout statistics behind it paint a much bigger picture than most employers realize,” with Gen Z experiencing burnout faster than older generations. Interestingly, they found that remote or hybrid workers struggle with burnout more than others. A recent video clip from a professor at Bethel University notes that younger workers actually do not prefer remote work, in part because they grew up during COVID and understand the perils of isolation.

I think all these studies point to things we probably know but often fail to implement in our lives: Working harder and longer hours is not the source of satisfaction. Earning more money isn’t always worth the cost to our mental and physical health. Being tied to our screens and feeding on “social” media does not necessarily give us the relational support we really need. Scripture tells us:

• “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind” (Eccl. 1:14).
• “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Is. 55:2a).
• “The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, but the belly of the wicked suffers want” (Prov. 13:25).

Often what we really need is to slow down, rest (imagine that!), and connect with those in the Body of Christ who can support, counsel, and encourage us in our daily walk.

As I write this, my denomination is in the midst of preparing for our Triennial Convention in a few weeks, with all kinds of details to arrange, questions to answer, and some debates to moderate. It can be tiresome and even irksome at times. But next week I get to enjoy time with friends at our regional Family Camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and I know it will be uplifting for my weary soul. Without that break, I don’t know how I would make it through the next month. I know I’ll need some additional rejuvenation when the dust settles, so I’m getting things on the calendar as motivation to endure.

I’m grateful that my identity is not in my ability to do a job, though I have to remind myself of that frequently. It actually comes from being united with Christ and a member of His Body. It does include work, but only at the direction of the Head, not my own unreasonable expectations and endeavors. At the end of the day, and the end of life, what matters is resting in what He has done, not what I have done.

“Satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Ps. 90:14).

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© 2026 Dawn Rutan. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture are ESV and all images copyright free from pixabay.com. The opinions stated do not necessarily reflect the views of my church or employer.