Ministry is exhausting. Sometimes it is because we have poorly planned and have too many things happening at once. Other times it is beyond our control and our flock requires extra attention.
I was on a road trip once and was passing the time talking on my cell phone. I eventually used the last bit of power and the phone shutdown. It was winter, I hit some black ice and spun around into a snow bank. The car was fine, but stuck. I was nearly home, so there were plenty of people in the area to help me get out. I grabbed my cell phone and… shoot!
That was a long and cold walk to get some help, but I learned my lesson. If I don’t keep the batteries charged, then I won’t have the juice when it really matters.
Keeping our emotional batteries charged is an incredibly important part of an effective ministry. If we let ourselves get too drained, there may come a point when someone calls on us and we just don’t have the energy to properly minister, and that’s lame. Here are some of the ways that I keep my batteries charged:
Keep a “Recharge File”
My favorite file in my entire office is my “Recharge File.” It is a folder in one of my drawers that holds every encouraging note or spiritually significant exchange I’ve had with a student. Things like
- Thank You cards
- Letters from Grads
- Notes from Van Rides & Mission Trips
- FaithStories (Testimonies)
- Pictures
Thanks to the digital age, a lot of these things come via e-mail, but I just print them out and stick them in the folder. There have been plenty of rough days full of students being crazy, parents getting upset, lessons that bombed, or just plain exhaustion. These are the days that I take 10 minutes and go through my Recharge File. It rarely fixes my problems, but it always puts them in perspective.
Have an Encouragement Buddy
A few weeks ago we had a retreat that was a huge success. Spiritual growth galore! I’ve learned over the years that these experiences are often followed by frustration and disappointment. Partly being snapped into reality, and partly Satan working to keep us form getting to motivated, I’m sure. I came back from the trip and told my wife, “This trip was amazing. I’m going to need you to remind me of that in the coming weeks.”
Sure enough, after another youth event, I was bumming out. My wonderful spouse was right there to remind me what I had said.
Find somebody who can be the person who remind you of the great things that are happening in your ministry. It could be your spouse, a co-worker, or a volunteer leader. Just make sure you tell them when things are going great, so they can remind you when things aren’t so great.
Take A Day Off Each Week
Disclaimer: I suck at doing this. But it’s from failing to do it that I realize how important it is. God can keep being God without your help. All of your students won’t reject Him if you take a break for 24 hours. Pick a day of the week to take off and guard it like a hungry pit bull with a steak. No excuses. Just do it.
Play!
Find something to do each day that has no other benefit besides being enjoyable. It doesn’t have to make sense, and it doesn’t have to take long. It just has to remind you that playing is part of the point of creation.
Personally, I have a little gun that shoots smoke rings. I like to shoot them in my office and play a form of “Smoke Ring Horseshoes” by seeing if I can get a “ringer” around differing things in the room.
Be a Christ Follower
We spend the majority of our time being leaders. There is a restful quality it just being a follower. Spend time in the Bible that isn’t just because you’re planning a lesson. Spend time in prayer without having an agenda. Do the things you are telling your students to do. That’s where you will find the rest the Bible talks about.
So those are the things I do to keep the batteries full. What do you do?
[ht to Tim Schmoyer at Life in Student Ministry for suggesting this topic]
