You have to understand something as a pastor: caring for people does not mean being available to everybody at every moment. If you try to personally carry every member’s problem, answer every call immediately, attend every event and solve every crisis yourself, eventually the people you’re trying to care for will be receiving from a pastor who is exhausted.
Jesus cared deeply for people, but He also withdrew to pray and rest. There were moments when He left the crowds and went somewhere quiet. That wasn’t a lack of compassion; it was part of how He remained effective in His assignment.
Learn to build a church where care is shared. Train leaders, pastors, department heads and mature members to notice people, follow up, pray with them and provide appropriate support. You shouldn’t be the only person who knows when someone is struggling.
And don’t feel guilty about having boundaries. You can tell someone, “I can’t talk right now, but I want to hear you. Can we speak this evening?” That’s still care.
The goal isn’t to become a pastor who is available to everyone all the time. It’s to become a pastor who can continue caring for people for a long time.
You cannot pour endlessly from an empty vessel. Caring for yourself isn’t competing with caring for your members; it helps you remain capable of caring for them.
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