Pastors Need Self-Care
In addition to teaching the Bible and praying with people, many pastors provide care for their congregation that falls broadly under the umbrella of mental health.
This does not mean that pastors are counsellors (see this post) but that pastors spend a lot of time listening to the troubles and suffering of those in their congregation.
For a long time, the assumption was that this care was done by those who were emotionally healthy to those who were emotionally hurting. As a result, the needs of the pastor were not always considered.
The truth is that pastoral care is usually about broken people supporting other broken people.
Pastors are just as likely to be struggling with relationships, finances, health issues, and daily stress. They are also just as likely to experience mental illnesses, such as anxiety and depression.
Some pastors have attempted to just push through, feeling intensely the pressure of their calling. This is rarely sustainable.
Pastors need to take care of their mental health.
This is where you will expect me to give “seven proven tips on maintaining good mental health.” Unfortunately, I cannot do that.
The truth is that I have good days and bad days. There are days that I get frustrated with my teenage children. There are times I worry about money and if the car will break down. There are times that I cannot leave the stress of caring for others at the office.
I know of things that can help with my mental health and sometimes I am successful. Other times, I am just trying to get through the day.
For now, it is enough to just acknowledge that pastors are not superheroes and we need self-care, as well as care from others.
For further reading, check out my post The Difficult Truth About Mental Health.
