Your life is not frozen in time when you are involved in ministry. You may experience many situations that are painful or tragic while you are at work for God. You may suffer from the death of a loved one, a tragedy or illness may strike or you may go through complex issues such as financial burdens and family problems. It can be difficult to continue giving to others when you feel empty.
Take Care of Yourself
Ministry is not just emotional and mental but physical, too. When you suffer from problems or tragic life situations, they also affect you physically. You may not be able to make them go away, but you can face them better when you are taking care of yourself.
- Get enough rest
- Eat healthy foods and don’t skip meals
- Avoid too much sugar and caffeine that can make you jittery or tired when you crash
- Make time for exercise
Keeping your body healthy enables you to continue doing what you need to do.
Spiritual
When you feel empty and like you have nothing else to give to others – whether it is your family or those you minister to, take time away and spend it with God. Read the Bible and pray or just be still in His presence. Even Jesus had to take out time from His ministry to receive the strength He needed from His father.
If God gave you this ministry, He will enable you to continue in it. However, He wants you to draw your strength from Him and not use it as an excuse to neglect your relationship with God.
Mental and Emotional
There may be times when you need to take time out for your family, especially if you are going through a crisis that involves them. Get help with your ministry and take a day or a few hours off. Spend the afternoon with your kids or a night out with your spouse. Reconnect with those you love and draw strength from each other.
Remember that you are only human and you can’t do everything. Take some time for yourself as well. Find a hobby or activity you love and give yourself permission to indulge for a few hours. Don’t feel guilty. Just remind yourself that you will be better for your ministry and for the other situations you have to deal with after you take some time off.
We are all human and we face trials and tragedies even when we are involved in ministry. Ministering to others is not our ticket to an easy, carefree life. In fact, it is often through those struggles that we discover we are better able to minister to others who are hurting. Don’t try to hide from your pain, but use it to make you a better person and more effective in ministry.
