5 Tips to Survive (and Thrive) in Ministry

There is this old expression that says, “jack of all trades, master of none.” Sometimes this is the approach we take with ministry. You try to do everything because everything is needed to be done. This mindset is simply a recipe for disaster. Look at what the Bible says:

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully” (Romans 12:6-8).

We all have some type of spiritual gift, and we are expected to use it. This requires you to know what your gifts are and to operate in those gifts. What can frustrate and overwhelm people is when they operate in areas which they are not gifted in. This means you must know what you are called to do.

When you know both these things, it becomes easier to walk in the lane God desires you to walk in. There is not one person who is gifted or called to do everything. When you understand this truth, it becomes easier to focus on what God wants you to do. This is very similar to what Paul is saying in Romans; if your gift is prophesying, serving, teaching, encouraging, or whatever it is, know it and do it.

I like to say it like this, find your lane and stay in it. When you do what you are called to do and gifted to do, you will discover a joy and satisfaction in knowing you are doing what God wants you to do. You can survive and thrive a very long time in ministry when you walk in the path that God has ordained for you.

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Very closely related to tip number three is this one. You must learn how to say no. In the church we often treat the word “no” as if it is a four-letter word. Let me put your mind at ease. It is okay to say no. In fact, the more you know what you are called to do and the lane you are called to walk in, the easier it becomes to say no.

I don’t want you to think you are saying no to be arrogant or disrespectful, as if you can’t do something because it is beneath you. If that is the case, you have the wrong attitude. By saying no, you are acknowledging this is either something you are not good at doing, or this is something that doesn’t align with what God has called you to do. This does not mean you don’t scrub a toilet or help in an area where there is an immediate need, because you are not called to do it. If there is a need and you can lend a helping hand you should do it, just don’t allow it to become your primary ministry, unless God is leading you in that direction. 

You may find it easier to say no to the things you don’t like or want to do, but it goes beyond that. If you are doing this right, this may also mean saying no to ministry opportunities even when they seem good for you. For example, if you preach, teach, sing, or speak, that does not mean you automatically accept every invitation. You run them through the sieve of calling and relationship.

When I was younger, I fell victim to the shiny carrot syndrome, chasing after opportunities because they were there. As I got older, I realized I don’t have to do that. This also ties back to tip number one and your relationship with God. If you are walking with him, you will know when it is appropriate to say yes and when you need to say no. People that don’t know how to do this will burn out. For some it will happen quickly and for others it may take a little longer, but if you cannot say no you will eventually end up in this place.

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We live in a society that never stops. Just about everything in our society runs twenty-four hours per day. This is not just true of the secular world; this is true of ministry as well. Ministry never stops. There is always another service, another need, another person to pray for, another something that requires your time and attention. If you try to address all these things, you will never stop.

I have a friend in ministry who never stops to take a break. I would encourage him to take a moment to rest and he would always say, “the work of the ministry never stops.” This is an unhealthy mindset that unfortunately too many people have. Let’s look at how Jesus dealt with this, because if there was anyone who was busy in ministry, it was Jesus.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).

Jesus was giving us an example that we should follow. He was disconnecting from everything around him, so he could connect with the Father, which goes back to relationship. Taking time away from ministry is not only healthy for your relationship with God, but also healthy for your relationships with family and friends as well. 

There is a principle called the law of diminishing returns. This means that once you reach a certain capacity of output, everything you produce after that produces less and less gains. In ministry we can fall victim to thinking if we put in more time, we are going to get better results. This is true to a point, but once you reach a certain threshold, the quality of your work falls off. This is where the diminishing returns come into play. Your body, your mind, your spirit all need time to recharge and renew. If you don’t do this, ministry is eventually going to overwhelm you.

I would recommend that each day you have a cutoff point where you stop working. I understand there will be moments where you must work past the cutoff point. These should be the exceptions, not the rule. Also, there should be at least one day where you don’t even look at anything ministry related. I know for some people this seems scary, but the ministry won’t fall apart because you are disconnected for one day. By the way if it does, that means you are not doing a good job of building your ministry.

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There is a classic mistake we all are prone to make when it comes to ministry. Think back to the first time you had to do whatever it is you do in ministry. You were probably nervous, and you were most likely praying and asking God to help you. Over time you got better at what you do, and when that happens there is a tendency to not pray and ask God for help as much because you are now comfortable in your role. This is a mistake far too many people make.

Here is an important truth I hope will burn deep in your heart. Ministry begins with the help of the Holy Spirit, and it continues with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Without the Holy Spirit there is no ministry…period. If you are not depending on the Holy Spirit in ministry, then that means you are depending on yourself or someone else. Neither you nor anyone else can do in ministry what the Holy Spirit can do – it is just not possible. In an old American Express commercial, they had a slogan, “don’t leave home without it.” When it comes to ministry and the Holy Spirit, don’t try to do it without him.

When you make room for him and depend on him, you will be able to survive and thrive in ministry because you are resting and trusting in his eternal power to do what you cannot do on your own. You will never accomplish in ministry what God wants without his help. I pray that you would decide today to never attempt anything in ministry without relying on the help of the Holy Spirit. He will make all the difference.

You can make it in ministry, and it doesn’t have to overwhelm you. There will be some choices you must make, and I hope these tips will help you and encourage you, because surviving and thriving in ministry is not beyond your reach. If you find yourself struggling, feel free to reach out to me and stop going at it in the way you are doing. There is a better way, so let’s see how we can help you stop being overwhelmed and become a thriver in ministry. 

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