5. Care for yourself.
A sick shepherd is a lousy shepherd. When I said that none of us are immune to brokenhearted-ness, I meant no one. That includes pastors. How the post-pandemic church will look is still to be determined, but what we do know is that it will look different. Some churches have and will continue to close. Others will have reduced budget, staff, and resources. You are a shepherd of a flock in a storm. The storm is hitting you as well, and although it can sometimes seem easier to engage in unhealthy practices to avoid addressing the wounds of your own broken heart, for the sake of yourself, your family, and your people, you must find healthy ways to care for yourself physically, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.
One final note
You may be tempted to believe that when you are brokenhearted, you can handle your pain alone. Pastors are notorious for trying to hide their own struggles and to appear as if they are okay. But if the past 18 months have taught us anything, it’s this: we are all hurting in different ways. Your broken heart can be your most powerful shepherd’s crook of all. As you shepherd your flock to the safe gate, remember that you too must know where to find that gate when the storms roll in.
