Dr. Dontá McGilvery argues that self-care is more than a personal wellness practice. For pastors, ministry leaders, and church members alike, making time for rest is an act of faith that reflects trust in God’s provision rather than our own endless striving.
Self-care has become something of a buzzword. Depending on who uses the phrase, it may evoke images of expensive vacations, luxury retreats, or leisurely afternoons that seem out of reach for most people in ministry. Yet Scripture presents a much deeper vision of caring for ourselves. Biblical rest is not self-indulgence but faithful stewardship. As the end of summer draws nearer and another ministry season begins, pastors, church staff, and lay leaders would do well to remember that making room for rest is not optional. Rest is a spiritual discipline that reflects trust in God. Self-care, therefore, is not simply a matter of personal wellness, rather, it is an act of faith that trusts God’s provision enough to obey God’s command to rest.
The foundation for this rhythm begins with God. Before God ever commanded Israel to rest, God modeled it. “Remember the Sabbath day, and keep it holy,” because “on the seventh day the Lord rested.” God’s rest was not the result of exhaustion but of completion and delight in creation. By resting, God established a pattern for humanity that reminds us that our worth is not measured by endless productivity. Because God rested, God’s people are invited to rest as an act of worship rather than as a reward for finally finishing everything.
That invitation naturally raises an important question. What does faithful rest actually look like in ordinary life? It may include taking an evening walk with your spouse, spending an hour reading for enjoyment, exercising, playing pickleball with friends, watching a movie with your family, taking a Sabbath nap, or simply turning off email for a few hours. These practices are not valuable because they are recreational. They are valuable because they restore our minds, bodies, and spirits so that we can continue serving others from a place of health rather than depletion. Even Jesus regularly “withdrew to deserted places and prayed,” demonstrating that stepping away from ministry is often part of faithful ministry itself.
Some will object that there is simply too much work to stop. Churches have needs, communities have crises, and ministry leaders often carry responsibilities that seem impossible to put aside. Yet Scripture consistently teaches that obedience requires trusting God’s provision more than our own effort. Hebrews 11 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God,” and throughout the chapter ordinary acts become righteousness because they are performed by faith. Noah built the ark by faith before rain ever came. Abraham left home by faith without knowing his destination. Likewise, choosing to honor God’s rhythm of rest before every task is complete declares that God is able to sustain the work even while we step away. Rest becomes an expression of faith that God is ultimately responsible for the ministry, not us.
Others will argue that self-care is a privilege reserved for people with financial resources or flexible schedules. Many faithful Christians work multiple jobs, care for aging parents, raise children alone, or live with constant economic pressure. Their reality deserves compassion rather than simplistic advice. Yet biblical rest was never designed only for the wealthy. The Sabbath command extended to servants, laborers, foreigners, and even livestock, revealing God’s concern that every person experience renewal. Self-care may not always look like an entire day away. Sometimes it is 10 quiet minutes in prayer before work, a brief walk during lunch, sharing a meal without distractions, or asking trusted friends and church members to help carry burdens. The goal is not luxury but intentional faithfulness within the circumstances we have.
Another common objection is that caring for ourselves somehow conflicts with sacrificial ministry. Many leaders quietly believe that pouring themselves out without limits proves their commitment to Christ. Yet Jesus offered a different model. When the disciples returned from demanding ministry, Jesus told them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” Their mission mattered, but so did their restoration. Likewise, the apostle Paul reminds believers that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Caring for the body and mind God has entrusted to us is not selfish, but faithful stewardship that enables long term service instead of preventable burnout.
As another ministry season begins, perhaps the most faithful question is not, “How much more can I accomplish?” but “How can I better honor God’s rhythm for my life?” Obeying God may look like blocking an evening for family, protecting a Sabbath, taking a daily walk, accepting help instead of carrying every responsibility alone, or simply trusting that the church belongs to Christ more than it belongs to us. These choices may appear small, yet they quietly proclaim that our hope rests in God’s faithfulness rather than our own striving.
When we embrace God’s gift of rest, we discover that self-care is not a retreat from ministry. It is one of the ways God prepares us to serve with greater joy, endurance, and faith.
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Related Resources
- Build Resilience. Reduce Burnout by Diane Owen
- Getting Beyond Ministry Burnout and Tiredness by Jaye Johnson
- Starting a Conversation about Mental Health by Matthew S. Stanford
- Taking Clergy Mentorship to the Next Level, a Lewis Center video tool kit resource
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