Yes, ministry, like any job or position we hold, can become monotonous.
It may not be that it’s boring, but it could be that we get tired of:
- criticism that inevitably is part of leading in ministry.
- the challenge of weekly tasks – have you discovered that Sunday comes around every week?
- not having enough volunteers, or resources, or support from senior staff, or…or…or…
It could be that we’re distracted by personal issues – relationships at home, financial challenges, physical ailments.
It could be something else that brings us to a season where our ministry just seems challenging. It’s hard to be excited about it. It feels like we’re pulling everything uphill instead of coasting down the slope of ministry momentum.
It’s a challenging season that we all go through on occasion. Haven’t you?
What do you do about it? Here’s a few ideas:
- Stay in the Word. We have a tendency to skimp on the most important elements of our ministry, namely our relationship with Christ. Remember that our ministry should flow from our relationship, not vice-versa.
- Do your job. Lack of enthusiasm or excitement about our leadership position does not give us license to slack in our responsibilities. Keep doing your job to the best of your ability, and with a good and Godly attitude.
- Stay disciplined in other areas. When you are at your best, what disciplines do you maintain for personal growth? Physical health? Emotional & social well-being? In addition to your spiritual health, keep doing what you need to do in these areas, even if it’s through sheer determination (and creating accountability is another good idea in this area).
- Step back & take a long look. Why, exactly, are you going through this season? Figure it out as well as you can because you can’t address any problems until you know what they are. This might mean talking with senior leadership, mentors, other leaders involved in the ministry. It could be anything from the fact that you’ve been doing the same thing in your ministry to God prompting you to move on. Or, as we said earlier, it could be something completely outside of ministry that’s sapping your focus & energy.
- Be proactive in addressing the challenges. Whatever the issues may be, actively pursue steps to address them. While these seasons are inevitable, I do not believe that God wishes us to wallow in them, and it’s our responsibility to be vision oriented. And any vision worth pursuing should be a vision that excites and challenges us.
