3 ways to keep pace without burning out

Ben Marshall May 23, 2019

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

The way you begin greatly impacts how you’ll finish. I completed a number of long-distance running races and one thing I noticed is the pace of the race. In my small sampling of races, there seemed to be a normal occurrence: The younger the racer, the faster they tend to start, and the sooner they end up walking or throwing in the towel.  

Starting fast is exciting! There’s a lot of energy, a lot of distance to cover and you’re ready! 

Whether a new job, the first job in your desired field or a new project in your current job, we all experience the start of something new. 

It matters how you start. How you start will impact how you finish. It doesn’t tell the whole story, but it does make a difference.

How do we start in a way that is sustainable over a long journey? I have already seen friends in ministry burnout and leave. Moral failure isn’t always the reason for someone leaving ministry. Many times, their current pace is unsustainable. Finding that work-life balance isn’t easy. 

How can you start and continue at a good pace? 

1. Begin with the end in mind. 

You’ll begin differently when you have the long-term in mind. There are seasons in ministry that are busier than others. It’s an almost guarantee that certain seasons will feel overwhelming, schedules jam-packed and demands at an all-time high. 

These are seasons when you know the pace will be difficult, but there is an end date. Then, when the end of that stretch of the “race” is finished, celebrate the distance traveled and take some time away.

2. Schedule your priorities. 

Make time for what is most important. What are your priorities? 

If you’re married and/or a parent, those are big priorities. Schedule time with your family and special time with your spouse. Be present. 

Your faith is an absolute priority. Continue to be energized and filled with the strength of the Lord. Don’t try to sustain your pace in your own strength.

3. Take time off. 

Make a regular practice of taking a Sabbath. Each week there should be time that is not spent working, but resting. 

This could be a day filled with family outings or getting away for a particular hobby. This could be time away after a particularly crazy season. Time off is not unproductive. It can actually increase your productivity. Make sure this rest time makes it onto your schedule, too.

Take a moment and check your pace. Is it healthy? Is it sustainable? Did you start too fast or maybe too slow? What step(s) could you take to adjust your pace so it is sustainable over a long period of time?

Photo source: istock

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Ben Marshall is a Pastor at Pathway Church in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. He works with teenagers and young adults. He is passionate about leadership and raising up the next generation of biblical leaders. He is a blogger, guitar player and sports enthusiast. Ben currently resides in Beaver Falls with his wife Connie and their two daughters, Aliya and Sophie Learn More »

• Why people don't respond when you talk to them (by Carey Nieuwhof)
• When preaching solutions, do these two things first (by Mark MacDonald)
• How smartphones have been used toward a torrent of cyberbullying (by Thom Rainer)
• How to bless before you blame in a conflict at work (by Jordan Raynor)

Free eBook

Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry

Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.

Download Now