The Emotional Rollercoaster of Pastoral Ministry

What do you think about rollercoasters? Some people like them while others think they are a horrible invention that should never have been built. Rollercoasters have mixed reviews because of their design. As you know, they go up and down, side to side, and sometimes upside down. The takeoffs can be fast or slow. But they all seem to make abrupt stops.
Pastoral ministry is a lot like riding an emotional rollercoaster. All pastors will feel the ups and downs of ministry, and most of the time, these feelings take place within a 24-hour period. This article will provide 5 ways pastors must learn to ride the emotional rollercoaster in ministry.

Real World Experience
But first, here is a hypothetical scenario to let you know what is meant by an emotional rollercoaster in the life of pastoral ministry. After preaching, you feel a sense of joy and excitement as you watch people grow in God’s Word. This feeling is short lived because it is followed by an awkward conversation in the foyer as people are leaving the building. You are trying to process what was meant by the off-handed comment when some guests approach you indicating their intentions to join the church. The joyful feeling returns, overshadowing the awkwardness of the previous conversation.

Then, that longtime member of the church who is your most cynical critic catches your eye. They begin to walk towards you, and you get that knot in your stomach and your mouth goes dry. Sure enough, something has exasperated this individual—again—and they are not hesitant about putting you in the crosshairs of their ungracious complaint. You make it home, and the love and joy that comes from being with your family comforts you. However, this is short-lived. Your phone rings (thank God for those cell phones…right?), and your heart sinks. A member’s child is being rushed to the hospital due to a severe allergic reaction. After you pray with the family, you are informed that someone in the community has just passed away, bringing you more grief and sadness. You overcome those emotions to focus on spending the remaining time with your family before the week goes into full swing.

At last, you lay your head down on your pillow to go to sleep. You see a text message from another member flash across your screen. You hesitate to look at it, but you know you will not be able to sleep until you do. You read the message, and this member shares with you how much your sermon that morning touched their heart. You needed that encouragement because you recognized it as a means of God’s grace, which brings you back to the very reason you are serving the Lord as a minister of the gospel. You thank God for his peace that has guarded your heart and mind in Christ Jesus, and you go to sleep (Phil. 4:7).

If you think that case study is an exaggeration, you need to speak with other pastors who are serving the Lord. This is pastoral ministry. How does a minister get through these times? Here are five ways to ride the emotional roller coaster in ministry:

1. Spend time with God. Prayer and the Word are your healing ointments (Phil. 1:3–4; Ps. 119:50). They provide the tools you need for emotional and spiritual health. Pastor, do not neglect time praying for these people, your family, and yourself. In your prayer time, be sure to allow God to speak comfort, peace, and rest through his Word.
2. Get rest. Many pastors neglect the discipline of taking one day a week to rest. To do this, it requires you to find people who will hold you accountable. You need to be honest with your members about when that day is and train others to carry the ministry weight on your day off. I am aware of the controversies surrounding the Sabbath as a created ordinance, but I think God rested on the seventh day as an example for us to emulate (Gen. 2:2).
3. Be healthy. Emotions do take a toll on the body. Stress, tension, and elevated blood pressure are real physical reactions to one’s emotional status. Your body needs you to eat right and get exercise to help cope with the up and down feelings of pastoral ministry. Do not neglect to care for your body (1 Tim. 4:8).
4. Make friends and mentors. Views differ on friends within the pastorate. Should you make friends inside the congregation or not? No matter your stance, you need people to speak with about your emotions. These need to be people you can trust. We all need others to help us process our feelings. Mentors and friends give you a safe place to express what you are emotionally wrestling with in pastoral ministry (Acts 4:36).
5. Get help. Sometimes emotions can overwhelm you to the point where you feel like you are suffocating. Some symptoms this is happening to you are: a loss of joy, depression, and anxiety. If this is you now or in the future, get help. Do not be ashamed or too proud to reach out to a biblical counselor. The emotional baggage we carry can push us past our limits. If you get to that point—preferably before—talk to a counselor (Prov. 16:18).

Conclusion
The emotional rollercoaster is a part of pastoral ministry. But the Lord is gracious. He is with you. He has provided you with the tools to help you get through these days. Therefore, spend time with him, get rest, stay healthy, talk with friends and mentors, and get help when you need it. Beloved, let us not only start well, but also finish the race that God has called us to run (2 Tim. 4:7–8).