Leaders Who Suffer In Silence

Throughout the history of the church the leaders (i.e. Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Praise and Worship leaders) have always been expected to pour out continuously. They carry the load of their flock, and rarely can they “turn it off” and be themselves. They must pray, counsel, encourage, guide, disciple, correct, and love EVERYONE daily.

But has anyone ever stopped to ask how? How can they handle the weight of their assignment, be everything that the body of Christ wants them to be, and be true to themselves? Have you ever stopped to understand what that entails, and the sacrifice that they endure when they told God yes?

Being a leader, regardless of your age, entails such a demand that it can often feel unbearable. Yes, there is a level of enjoyment at times, but it also requires a level of sacrifice. I have had the opportunity to talk and work with several leaders and they all attest to that there is a weight to their assignment. For some of them when they told God yes they did not understand all that it would entail, yet quickly realized that it would come with a sacrifice. For some of them it took away their ability to be themselves, it left them forfeiting opportunities, and forced them to be “on” all the time.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to a young pastor and although he would not retract saying yes to his calling, he expressed that there are a lot of things that are unsaid or overlooked, and mental health is one. A study completed by Lifeway and Focus on the Family (2020) identifies that mental illness in pastors is not uncommon, yet often overlooked. The church has a history of selfishly neglecting the needs of their pastor as long as they continue to pour into them every Sunday. However, studies show that 23% of pastors have experienced some level of mental health, 12% have received a diagnosis, 71% have experienced burnout, and the suicide rate has consistently climbed over time. We are allowing our leaders to suffer in silence! So how do stop this? There are a few things that must be brought to light and corrected.

1. Before they are your pastor, they are human. This means that have feelings, they are imperfect, and should be allowed to make mistakes. We must begin taking the time to encourage them just as much as we want them to encourage us, and not just on pastor anniversary. A simple thank you, or a text message saying “ I’m praying for you” can go a long way.

2. If God had moments that he needed to be alone so does your pastor! We cannot expect our pastors to be present 24/7. Allow them the ability to say No They need moments to regroup, realign, and be restored outside of the limelight.

3. Allow them to seek counsel without scrutiny. Every pastor should have the ability to retain a therapist. A place that they can unload and leave it there without judgement.

So to the body of Christ, I commission you to begin to see the needs of your pastor and support them just as much as they support you!