7 Mistakes Church Leaders Make with Emotional Health (And How to Fix Them Before Burnout Hits)

You're sitting in your office after another Sunday service. The messages are piling up. Your spouse hasn't seen you relaxed in weeks. And somewhere deep inside, you know you're running on fumes, but you keep telling yourself, "Just a little longer. Just until this season passes."

Here's what I've learned coaching church leaders for years: that season never passes until you address what's really happening beneath the surface. Your emotional health isn't a luxury. It's the foundation everything else stands on.

Mistake #1: Burying Your Emotions Instead of Processing Them

You know what happens when you ignore a warning light in your car? Eventually, the engine stops working. Your emotions are warning lights. When you bury grief, frustration, disappointment, or even joy, they don't disappear, they show up later in ways you can't control.

I've watched leaders snap at their families, make impulsive decisions, or withdraw completely because they spent years stuffing their feelings down. If you ignore joy and celebration because there's too much work to do, you're teaching everyone around you to do the same.

The Fix: Create space to process emotions in real time. Start a daily practice, even just five minutes, where you journal what you're feeling and bring those emotions to God in prayer. Name them. Don't judge them. Just acknowledge what's true. When you process grief today, you don't carry it into next month's leadership decisions.

Mistake #2: Letting Emotions Drive the Bus

On the flip side, some leaders become so "in tune" with their emotions that every decision gets filtered through how they feel in the moment. That's equally dangerous. Leadership requires wisdom, not just authenticity.

When you're angry about a ministry situation, that anger might be legitimate, but it's not the best guide for your next move. Feelings are real, but they aren't always right.

The Fix: Practice what the old preacher Martyn Lloyd-Jones called "preaching to yourself." When emotions surge, talk to them with truth. Ask: "What is God's Word saying about this situation? What would wisdom do here?" Let emotions inform you, but let Scripture and the Holy Spirit guide you.

Mistake #3: Measuring Success by Numbers Instead of Spiritual Growth

Church culture loves metrics. Attendance. Budget. Social media followers. And look, stewardship matters, but when your identity as a leader gets wrapped up in "bigger and better," you've divorced your leadership from your spiritual formation.

You can't give what you don't possess. If you're chasing growth but neglecting your own soul, you're building a house on sand.

The Fix: Redefine success. What if the real win this year isn't adding fifty new members but helping three people experience genuine transformation? What if it's your own deeper intimacy with Jesus? Start asking: "How am I studying Scripture apart from sermon prep? How much unstructured time am I spending with God?"

Mistake #4: Believing "Doing" Is More Important Than "Being"

You've probably said it without realizing: "What you do is more important than who you are." It's the unspoken belief that drives you to say yes to every opportunity, every meeting, every crisis that pops up.

But Jesus didn't call you to be a ministry machine. He called you into relationship with Him first. Who you're becoming in Christ matters infinitely more than your productivity.

The Fix: Block off time for "being" before "doing." Protect mornings for prayer, Scripture, and silence before you open your inbox. Ask yourself regularly: "Am I leading from overflow or obligation?" If it's obligation, you're headed toward burnout.

Mistake #5: Swinging Between Neglect and Obsession with Self-Care

Some leaders ignore their bodies and emotional needs completely. Others swing the opposite direction and become obsessed with self-optimization. Neither extreme honors the truth that you are both body and spirit, designed by God for balance.

You don't need to run marathons or follow the latest productivity guru. You need rhythms that sustain you.

The Fix: Start small and realistic. Convert 60-minute meetings to 30 minutes. Group individual meetings together when possible. Recognize that God has given you 24 hours: and that's enough to accomplish His will for one day. If you need more time than that, you're at risk of emotional crisis. It's a sign to reevaluate your yes-list.

Mistake #6: Refusing to Set Boundaries Between Ministry and Home

Not every conversation is urgent. Not every text requires an immediate response. And your family should never feel like they're competing with the church for your attention.

I've seen too many pastors lose their marriages and relationships with their kids because they believed ministry came first. Your family is your first ministry. When you model healthy boundaries, you teach your congregation to do the same.

The Fix: Set clear office hours and stick to them. Put your phone away during family meals. Protect your Sabbath like it's sacred: because it is. And when someone says, "I need to talk to you right now," practice saying, "I can meet with you Tuesday at 3 PM." Most things can wait.

Need prayers? Text us day or night at 1-901-213-7341.

Mistake #7: Avoiding Accountability and Refusing to Admit You're Wrong

Pride kills emotional health faster than almost anything else. When you can't apologize, can't admit mistakes, and can't receive correction, you create a culture of fear instead of grace.

Your people don't need a perfect leader. They need a humble one who models what it looks like to walk with Jesus through failure.

The Fix: Apologize quickly and specifically. When you mess up, own it privately and publicly. Say, "I was wrong. I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?" It's uncomfortable: but it's also freedom. And it shows your church that leaders are human, not immune to error.

🌊 Breath Section: Pause and Receive

Take a slow, deep breath right now. Hold it for three seconds. Release it slowly.

You are not the Savior. Jesus is. You are a beloved child of God called to shepherd His people: but you can't do that if you're running on empty.

God isn't asking you to be superhuman. He's asking you to be honest, humble, and willing to grow. Emotional health isn't a sign of weakness. It's a sign of wisdom.

Reflection Question

Which of these seven mistakes are you making right now? Be honest with yourself. Where are you burying emotions, letting feelings drive decisions, chasing numbers, neglecting your soul, skipping boundaries, or refusing to admit you're wrong?

You can't fix what you won't acknowledge. But once you see it, you can start moving toward healing.

Your Action Step This Week

Choose one of the fixes above and commit to it for the next seven days. Maybe it's starting a five-minute journaling practice. Maybe it's setting office hours. Maybe it's apologizing to someone you've hurt.

Write it down. Tell a trusted friend or mentor. And then do it: not perfectly, but faithfully.

You Don't Have to Do This Alone

Emotional health isn't a solo journey. You need community, accountability, and someone in your corner who understands the unique pressures of ministry leadership.

If you're ready to invest in your emotional and spiritual health before burnout hits, I'd love to walk with you. Whether it's one-on-one coaching, leadership development, or just learning how to build rhythms that sustain you for the long haul, I'm here.

Visit www.laynemcdonald.com to explore coaching, mentorship, and resources designed specifically for leaders like you. Every visit helps raise funds for families who've lost children: at no cost to you. You're not just investing in yourself; you're partnering in something bigger.

And if you're looking for a spiritual home where you can stay grounded, connected, and encouraged, check out www.boundlessonlinechurch.org: a private online church where you can watch teachings, join family groups, and grow in your faith without the pressure.

You were made for sustainable, joy-filled ministry. Not burnout. Not exhaustion. Not constant crisis mode.

Take the first step today. Your future self: and everyone you lead: will thank you.

Grace and strength, Dr. Layne McDonald