Self-Care Through the Seasons of Life
23/04/2025
Emma Collett is the Dean of Education at Youthworks College
Being a ministry worker brings with it joys and challenges, and everything in between. It is a profound privilege to journey alongside people through the varying seasons of life. The relationships formed within the church community can be rich and life-giving. However, living a life of ministry can also be emotionally and spiritually demanding. The expectations can be high, the boundaries blurred, and the weight of caring for others constant. When we’re focussed on meeting the needs of others, it is easy to neglect our own well-being and self-care.
In recent years, due to some unexpected health challenges, I have had to rethink my approach to self-care. What I’ve discovered in the process is this: self-care isn’t selfish—it’s stewardship, and a necessity for sustainable, healthy and resilient ministry. Making space for rest, spiritual renewal, and personal boundaries allows ministry workers to continue serving with joy, resilience, and integrity.
Biblical Principles for Self-Care
At the heart of biblical self-care is the conviction that God is ultimately in control. This truth frees us from the burden of believing everything depends on us and invites us to rest in his sovereignty (Psalm 46:10). We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), yet we are also fragile and limited beings (2 Corinthians 4:7–12). Scripture affirms the need for rest—God not only modelled it but commanded it through the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8–11). Far from being optional, rest is a gift designed for our good (Mark 2:27–28).
Jesus himself modelled rhythms of quiet time and solitude by withdrawing from the crowds to pray and be renewed (Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16). The apostle Paul reminds us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20), reinforcing a holistic view of health that includes the physical, emotional, and spiritual. And when Jesus commands us to love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:31), it assumes that we care for ourselves in healthy, life-giving ways—so we can serve others from strength rather than depletion.
Practising this kind of self-care doesn’t just sustain us day to day—it lays the groundwork for resilient ministry.
In their book Resilient Ministry: What Pastors Told Us About Surviving and Thriving, Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie share insights from a five-year research project on pastoral sustainability. Through in-depth interviews and conversations with pastors, they identified five key areas essential for long-term ministry health: spiritual formation, self-care, emotional and cultural intelligence, marriage and family, and leadership and management.
They define self-care as:
‘A holistic concept that explores how five aspects of one’s life are interwoven: the emotional, spiritual, social, intellectual and physical’.
Their research reveals that when self-care is neglected, the results are often emotional exhaustion, strained relationships, and burnout.
Adapting Self-Care in Changing Seasons
I used to think self-care meant squeezing in a day off or going for a run a couple of times a week. But when my body no longer allowed me to keep the same pace, I had to learn a new rhythm—one that paid attention to my limits, honoured my season of life, and embraced grace.
In ministry, the seasons of life vary widely. For some, it’s studying at Bible college while working part-time in a church. For others, it’s the relentless pace of raising young children while juggling youth ministry or teaching SRE. Perhaps you’re in midlife, when energy isn’t what it used to be, yet your evenings are filled with meetings, Bible study, and youth group. Or maybe you find yourself caring for ageing parents while also mustering the strength to run a week-long holiday kids’ club.
Each season brings its own unique demands—and invites a different expression of self-care. It’s not a one-size-fits-all checklist, but a practice of attentiveness: listening to your limits, your context, and the gentle leading of the Spirit.
Leadership coach, pastor and writer Steve Cuss, known for his work on managing anxiety in ministry and the Being Human podcast, emphasises the importance of identifying and engaging in "life-giving habits"—activities that rejuvenate and connect individuals to God's love and goodness. These are small, intentional actions or experiences that connect you with joy, peace, or the presence of God. It could be walking to the local coffee shop for a coffee, reading a novel, or sitting on the balcony to watch the sun set. The point is not the activity itself but the restoration it brings to your soul. The key to this practice lies in maintaining a posture of gratitude towards God when engaging in each activity.
Practical Ways to Practise Self-Care
Here are a few practical ideas for practising self-care.
Build Sabbath rhythms – Take one day a week to completely disengage from ministry and work tasks. Use it for worship, rest, reflection, and life-giving activities. Sabbath isn’t optional—it’s both a command and a gift.
Tend to your inner life – Maintain daily spiritual disciplines—not just to prepare for ministry, but for the health of your own soul. Prayer, Scripture, silence, and stillness help ground you in God’s presence and renew your heart.
Steward your physical body– Your body is a gift from God, entrusted to you—not just for survival, but for service. That includes your emotional well-being and mental health. Pay attention to what your body is telling you—pain, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability are signals. Prioritise rest, movement, nutrition, and rhythms that nurture your whole self.
Nurture relationships – The Resilient Ministry project found that isolation is one of the biggest threats to pastoral health. Don’t go it alone. Stay connected with family, friends, and trusted peers who can walk alongside you and speak into your life.
Establish healthy boundaries – Guard your time for yourself, your family, your friendships, and your walk with God. Set a firm “off” time each day—turn off your phone, silence notifications, and step away from work. Ministry often feels urgent, but not everything is an emergency. Good boundaries protect what matters most.
Invest in a Hobby – Find something life-giving outside of ministry that brings you joy. A hobby can provide creative space, rest for the mind, and a chance to simply be without producing anything for others.
Create a ‘life-giving list’ – Make a list of things that replenish you and ‘fill your bucket’ and intentionally schedule them into your days and weeks. This list can serve as a guide to recognising and delighting in the gifts God provides on a daily basis.
Self-Care as an Act of Love for Others
When I am rested, emotionally grounded, and spiritually replenished, I can meet people where they are at. I am better able to serve those God has placed in my care. I’m more present with those I lead. I listen more deeply to those I serve alongside. I collaborate more patiently with team members. Self-care creates capacity—not just for more activity, but for deeper, more Christ-like engagement with the people around me.
So, fellow ministry worker, hear this: caring for yourself is not a luxury. It’s part of who you are as a created and finite being who is made in the image of God. Let the seasons of life guide you, let wisdom from others shape you, and let the Spirit of God renew and transform you.
No matter your season, Jesus’ invitation stands: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) He knows the weight you carry, and he cares for you—not just as a worker, but as his beloved child.
And remember: God’s work doesn’t stop when we rest.
What season are you in right now, and what does self-care look like for you?
