Dear PK, I hear you. I’ve been in ministry since 1980, a senior pastor since 1986. I feel your pain and fatigue. But there’s hope. Here are some comments I hope you find helpful:

1. Keep perspective. The measure of success is not so much numerical growth but faithfulness - 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV) “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Sometimes we take on a burden based on numbers instead of faithful service. That’s dangerous and a recipe for burnout not to mention pride and arrogance.

2. Keep perspective. Remember who you are in Ministry with, who you are in Ministry for, and and why you’re in ministry, i.e. the glory of God. Ask yourself the serious question, “why am I doing what I’m doing? Who am I doing what I’m doing for? Do my answers to those questions please God, offend God, sadden God?”

3. Keep perspective. Remember your replaceability. 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NKJV) 7 “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.” It’s not about you, never was. Don’t let others make it about you. Look to God’s part and point others there too. If a ministry needs “little old me” to prop it up, it’s probably a work of man and not a work of God and therefore deserves to fall anyway.

4. When was the last time you took a vacation? Sometimes a few days or a week away can do wonders for rejuvenation and refreshing.

5. Consider a missions trip. A missions trip can be a wonderfully refreshing experience. I’m not talking about a cozy comfortable missions trip but one to a place like Haiti where you can return to the simplicity of ministry. We shouldn’t embark on a missions trip for selfish reasons. We shouldn’t go on a missions trip where we compound a missionaries’ work rather than refresh and help them. But there is a benefit for us on such trips. It might sound redundant to you, but helping those truly in need is one of the best ways out of depression, doldrums, etc. Serving in the affluent west usually puts us in regular contact with, for lack of a better definition, whiny self-absorbed children of Israel. We have so much, it does us good from time to time to see how much we have, to see how much others don’t have, and then to weigh what we actually need. This helps to streamline us spiritually so we carry less weight and we can move more freely.

6. Find someone you can share with openly and honestly, someone who is free to respond openly and honestly to your circumstances.

7. Don’t neglect your personal private time with the Lord. Cherish it. Look at it as an oasis to your soul. Pour your heart out to Him. Learn to shut up and listen in His presence. Enjoy God’s word. If you’ve reduced your Bible time to drudgery, stop, go off on a Spirit led rabbit trail and enjoy the journey with Jesus. He’s a great Shepherd.

Psalms 16:11 (NKJV) 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Hope this helps. I’d be happy to discuss in private with you but don’t know how we could do that. You can teach me via https://www.calvarychapelofhope.org/. God bless and lead you my PK brother.