Since work and rest are both gifts from God, why are they so difficult to balance? Life and ministry are too unpredictable to balance which tempts us to throw up our hands in frustration and say, “Why bother?” 

The balancing act is just that—an act.  A “balanced” life is a dangerous myth. Rhythm is an alternative to balance rooted in Scripture. Unlike balance, rhythm embraces both work and rest as friends, not competitors.  

A healthy life is not the result of balancing work and rest but oscillating between the two. Oscillation is what a pendulum or stationary fan does: It moves or swings back and forth in a rhythmic way. 

A healthy life is not the result of balancing work and rest but oscillating between the two. Oscillation is what a pendulum or stationary fan does: It moves or swings back and forth in a rhythmic way. 

Jesus oscillated between stretches of work and rest. Sometimes after pouring himself all day into people, he would encourage them to stay longer and feed or heal them (Mark 6:37). Other times, however, he would send the crowds home (Matt. 14:23). The same Jesus who prayed all night also slept through a storm (Luke 6:12; Matt. 8:23). His life was a series of sprints and recoveries, spending and renewing, working and resting. He experienced a rhythm of cycles and seasons that were sustainable in his life and ministry. 

Ambitious pastors tend to overcommit and get overwhelmed. Finding a sustainable rhythm between work and rest and worship may take some time, but it will be well worth the effort.  

Go on strike, take a stand, and get your life back! Here are a few suggestions I hope will be helpful. 

Set Your Ministry Rhythm

Work is not the antithesis of rest. One without the other is counterproductive and beyond the scope of Scripture. A huge part of God’s plan for your life is your vocation. We were created to create and God gives us up to six days to do it enthusiastically. 

I implore you to manage your life by managing your ministry time intentionally. Instead of complaining or bragging about how busy you are, take the lead and set a sustainable pace for your family, for your ministry, and especially for yourself. 

Set Your Family Rhythm

Passive pastors don’t set boundaries. Their schedules lie at the mercy of the latest emergency. 

To successfully run and finish a five-decade ministry marathon, we must fulfill our covenants to both our Savior and our spouse. Our spouses will shoot straight with us about life at home. According to Lifeway Research, ministry spouses are twice as likely to say congregational demands interfere with their families’ free time together during the week as pastors are to say the demands of ministry keep them from spending time with their families (59 percent versus 31 percent).⁸

One of the most practical ways to heed this warning is to disconnect before dinner. If necessary, do a prison pat down for cell phones before family dinner. The family meal is on the verge of extinction, but it is worth fighting to preserve. 

Those who use Sabbath to catch up for work are missing out on a lot of fun, as well as robbing your family and friends of quality time with you. You will be significantly more effective during the workweek if you stop (Sabbath) at least one day at the end of the week to recharge and refocus. 

Set Your Worship Rhythm

Sabbath is a call to worship and rest in the presence of God, which we can and should do every day. Although Sundays are not a day of rest for most pastors, they can be a legitimate day of worship. I worship with all my heart right up to the time I take the pulpit. Instead of tweaking my sermon during the songs, I sing full-throated to my Father along with my sacred siblings. Sabbath was never intended to always be practiced in isolation, so reset your rhythm to abide in Christ every day and every week so that you can be the Great Commandment minister God called you to be. 

Take a moment to prayerfully consider these questions, and be prepared to reset the rhythm of your ministry, family, and worship if God leads you to. 

• Is your family living at a sustainable, sensible pace?  
• Who usually wins when your work and family compete?
• If someone were to audit your calendar, would your spouse come out on the winning end of that audit? 
• Is your “first love” getting the worship He deserves and demands?