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Leadership inevitably brings pressure. Every decision carries consequences and every responsibility adds weight to our calling. The good news is that the impact of stress is not always negative. The right amount can provide the motivation and focus we need to get things done. But if we carry too much stress for too long, we make poor decisions and can suffer physically and emotionally.
We cannot eliminate pressure from our lives and work and ministry leaders. The question is not how to avoid pressure and strain altogether, but how to remain faithful and fruitful while carrying it.
In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul personified the kind of resilience we need. He wrote, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (4:8-9). Paul’s words remind us that resilience is not the absence of pressure. It is the ability to endure hardship without being defined or defeated by it.
There are habits we can practice to mitigate the effects of stress and stay energized for the work of ministry. One of these practices is to pause before you react. Literally stop and take several deep breaths. Consider what you are about to say: Is it what needs to be said in this moment?
Another helpful practice is to break down what needs to be done into smaller individual tasks. Instead of asking your brain to think about a big, nebulous goal, focus on several manageable steps. This will not change the work, but it changes our perspective, which is not insignificant. Stress is always going to be a part of leadership, but through intentional habits, we can remain faithful and resilient.
Resources
When summer doesn’t feel like a season of ease
We typically anticipate relaxation and a slower pace in the summer, but that is hard to imagine this year. So it is even more important to prioritize rest and play, writes a psychologist who specializes in faith and mental health.
By Jessica Young Brown
Four key strategies that help pastors flourish
Pastors who implement practices like prioritizing their mental health or nourishing friendships flourish in their careers, the Duke Clergy Health Initiative found.
By Claire Cusick
The purpose of rest is to enable us to work more, right?
Deeply and faithfully loving and caring for oneself is enough — it’s not just a pause between activities, writes a seminary professor and psychologist.
By Chanequa Walker-Barnes
Those who flourish in ministry are intentional about their well-being
Challenges are part of any ministry, yet some clergy thrive despite the inevitable setbacks. New research shows that their keys to success can be boiled down to a few simple strategies available to anyone.
By Kate Rugani
Before you go
I know preachers love sermons with three points, so here’s a third practice for staying resilient: remain connected to others.
Stress often drives leaders toward isolation, but trusted friends, mentors and ministry colleagues can offer encouragement, wisdom and prayer when burdens feel heavy. I keep a few friends like these on speed dial (remember speed dial?). We went to seminary or college together, and I don’t have to be the “leader” when I’m with them. Staying connected to these people keeps me from trying to handle the pressure of leadership by myself. I have learned that if I am too busy to maintain friendships, then I am too busy. Who are the people who help you stay fruitful under pressure?
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!
Prince R. Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity