Finding Balance: Guarding Against Burnout
Ministry to girls is my heartbeat. It’s my passion. There’s nothing I love more than walking alongside young women and helping them discover who God created them to be.
But I’ll be honest—sometimes it feels like a lot.
There have been seasons where the pace of ministry has left me feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. And if I’m not careful, I can find myself running on empty. That’s why finding balance is essential—not just for surviving in ministry, but for thriving in it.
The Burnout Battle Is Real
The Fuller Youth Institute recently released a powerful report on youth leader burnout, and I found it incredibly eye-opening. Two of the four burnout categories they identified had to do with seasons of the year:
Summer Burnout – 27% of youth leaders said they experience the most burnout during June through August, peaking in July.
Fall-Winter Burnout – 21% reported the highest levels of burnout during the fall and winter months, peaking in November.
Source: Fuller Youth Institute, The FYI Report on Youth Leader Burnout & Wellbeing (Pasadena, CA: Fuller Theological Seminary, 2025).
I totally get this! Summer is nonstop with camps, mission trips, and activities while students are out of school. Then before you can catch your breath, it’s back-to-school season, and the fall calendar is already full.
On top of that, you’re managing all the responsibilities that come with being on staff. So how do we keep from crashing? What steps can we take to protect our passion and calling?
Let me share a few things that have helped me maintain my heartbeat for ministry—without burning out.
Keep God at the Center
This isn’t just the first thing—it’s everything.
The most important way to fight burnout is by keeping God in His rightful place. That means He’s not just a part of our ministry plans… He’s the One leading them.
Start with your own heart. Spend time in God’s Word every single day. Not to prep for your next teaching or event—but just to be with Him. Let Him speak to you before you try to speak to anyone else.
We also need to be in constant conversation with Him. Scripture tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). That means early morning prayers, mid-day whispers, bedtime reflections—planned and spontaneous moments with God.
I don’t know about you, but I simply cannot do the work God has called me to do without staying connected to Him. He is my source of strength, my wisdom, and my rest.
Better Together
You were never meant to do this alone.
Hebrews 10:24–25 reminds us:
"Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together... but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."
Community matters. You need people in your corner who understand the highs and lows of student and girls’ ministry. That might be teammates at your church—or others in your region who can relate to what you’re walking through.
Lean into the support. Share the load. Celebrate wins together. Cry together. Pray together.
Ministry is so much healthier when we’re not doing it in isolation.
Guard Your Time
Let’s be real—we all get the same 24 hours in a day.
And if we’re not intentional with how we spend those hours, burnout isn’t just likely… it’s inevitable.
Balance is key. Your time needs to be spread wisely between your personal walk with the Lord, quality time with your family, life-giving moments with friends, and the ministry you’re called to. If any one area consistently takes over the others—especially ministry—you’ll end up running on empty.
Here are a few simple practices that have helped me create healthy rhythms:
Prioritize daily time with the Lord—non-negotiable.
Put family and personal time on your calendar before adding ministry events.
Protect space for meaningful connection—date nights, girls' nights, family time, or solo recharge time.
Schedule vacations and staycations—especially around busy ministry seasons.
Set clear boundaries for work hours, nights, and weekends.
And here’s the key:
Protect what you plan. If it’s not an emergency, don’t cancel that rest or family time.
Learn to say no. You can’t say yes to everything without saying no to something that matters.
Take a Step Back
If you’re feeling drained right now, it might be time to take inventory:
Where is most of your time going?
Who are you spending your energy on?
Are you giving enough to your family?
What gives you life—and what drains you?