Check your gauges: What are they telling you?
On a recent commute to work, I had the sudden awareness of being thirsty. Thankfully, my trusty water bottle was right there in the cup holder and this need was quickly met. Thirst is your body’s way of warning you it needs water. Similarly, when your car needs gas and oil, the gauges will tell you the levels are getting low, and if you leave them unattended for too long, the dashboard lights will come on. When experiencing these sensations or seeing the warning lights, people who prioritize their health or the smooth operation of their vehicle are usually quick to act and attend to those needs. But can you say the same for your body, heart, mind, and spirit?
Pastoring a church and serving in ministry comes with a constant demand for our time, wisdom, guidance, counsel, and energy. Christian leaders are asked to give a lot of themselves, but a person is fooled if they believe they can keep going without pausing to check their gauges or if they settle for quick fixes. When the source of refilling is limited to the temporary measures of the world and excludes the eternal spring offered by Jesus, then we will be left wanting and require more again. Look at Jesus’ words as he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well:
“Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)
We can only drink what he gives if we spend time with him, and the only way to never be thirsty again is by drinking what he alone can offer us. When was the last time you sat with Jesus long enough to receive living water from him and be filled by him?
What are your gauges telling you? Are you stressed? Irritable? Restless? Have you been making poor decisions? Executing poor judgment? Pulling away from loved ones or lashing out at them? Isolating from community? Taking shortcuts in your work or sermon preparation? Neglecting time in God’s Word and in prayer? Noticing an absence of passion for your work and for the people you lead?
These are all warning signs that it’s beyond time to seek physical, emotional, and spiritual rest. If you’ve ever reached this state and then took action to rest and be refilled, great! That’s a good place to start. However, the unfortunate practice that many pastors and ministry leaders adopt is to wait until they’re totally empty (a.k.a. burned out) before adjusting their rhythms and intentionally coming to Jesus to be filled.
At Focus on the Family Canada, we offer our Kerith Ministry Leader Retreats as a place of rest and renewal for pastors, clergy, missionaries, and non-profit Christian ministry leaders. Kerith is absolutely a place for those feeling burned out to be restored, but I want to challenge you to consider attending one of our retreats as a means of prevention rather than waiting until a moment of utter depletion. Check your gauges. Intentionally devote time to pause in your Heavenly Father’s presence and drink in what he is offering.
Setting aside a week for a retreat amid a full schedule can feel like an inconvenience. Similarly, stopping to fuel up on a road trip or arranging for an oil change requires forethought and action. But ignoring these needs has far greater consequences. Don’t wait until you’re completely empty before stopping to rest, as you won’t do yourself, your spouse, your kids, or those you serve any favours. Instead, schedule in a timely rest stop and take in a retreat. Focus on the Family Canada’s Ministry Leader Retreats provide you with the time and space to slow down and meet with Jesus. We’ll also offer you a few tools throughout the week to help you create some new rhythms and practices.
Whether you’re thirsty, tired, or empty, the invitation is the same. Come to Jesus.
“Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
Steve Klassen is Executive Director of Kerith Retreats at Focus on the Family Canada. For more information about our retreats, visit KerithRetreats.ca.