Are you experiencing signs of women’s ministry burnout?
Are you dreading your next women’s ministry event, struggling to find enthusiasm for your women’s ministry team meetings, or experiencing a lack of joy for tackling ministry tasks?
Are you wondering if perhaps it’s time to quit?
Maybe you’re just weary of the mental, emotional, and spiritual battles…
Women’s ministry can be hard.
It’s challenging to try to meet the various needs of a diverse group of women. Personality conflicts can take their toll. The highs are high, but the lows can be low.
If you’re feeling the effects of ministry burnout, you are not alone.
You’re also not stuck.
There is a cure for burnout.
While your source of ministry burnout may be multi-layered, I’ve found the root cause is almost always a depletion of spiritual resources.
We can get so busy pouring into the lives of others that we neglect to fill back up. As many have said, it’s like pouring out of an empty cup.
The constant demands of women’s ministry can make it difficult to stop and refuel. A drop here and a drop there, while helpful, don’t last very long.
We must schedule blocks of time for intentional spiritual renewal.
The best way I know to receive effective and abundant spiritual renewal is to attend a retreat or conference. Not your own conference or retreat, but one that someone else has planned. Where you can just show up and soak in the teaching and fellowship provided. Where you can listen to God’s voice without the distractions and demands of daily life.
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. Proverbs 11:25
Within the last six months, I’ve had the opportunity to press pause and rediscover the joy I thought I’d lost. I was able to attend a women’s ministry conference and then a church retreat. Each one filled my spiritual tank in different ways.
Getting away allowed me to more clearly hear God speak.
I needed God to water my parched soul, and that is exactly what He did.
From soothing, worshipful melodies sung by the praise band to workshops that prepared me to better serve to sweet conversations with other Christian women, God’s loved reached down into some of the most tired parts of my soul.
I pray God will provide a way for you to get refilled spiritually. Perhaps a retreat at another church or an out-of-town training or conference. Churches often have a budget line set aside for ministry training. It is possible your church may be able to cover your expenses in part or whole. Either way, it’s a worthy investment.
You can also find online support and encouragement for women’s ministry leaders in our free Women’s Ministry Toolbox Community Facebook Group. While it’s not a replacement for a conference or retreat, it can provide spiritual nourishment and encouragement for the seasons in between.
For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish. Joshua 31:25
You may also want to read:
Letting Go of Perfect
How to Avoid Conference Overload
10 Tips for Surviving a Crazy Women’s Ministry Week
8 Reasons to Develop a Strong Women’s Ministry Team
One year ago: 8 Steps to Take after a Ministry Fail
Two years ago: Summer Icebreaker: Who here?
Three years ago: How to Host a Bible Journaling Event
Four years ago: Teach Your Team to Pray Out Loud
Five years ago: No More Notecard Stress
Six years ago: Christmas: Wrap It Up Game
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