Taking Care of Your Soul
When Compassion Wears Thin
Some days, you might feel like you're running on autopilot—responding to emails, meeting urgent needs, organizing volunteers—while deep down, you're exhausted. You used to feel joy in the work, but lately it's harder to care the way you once did. You find yourself emotionally checked out, more easily frustrated, and constantly tired no matter how much you sleep. You begin to dread the next phone call or request, not because you don’t care, but because you’ve been carrying too large of a weight for far too long.
Community ministry requires a deep commitment to love, serve, and shepherd those facing hardship, but for those carrying the many responsibilities of an outreach leader, this work slowly takes a toll. The long hours, emotional weight, constant need, and limited resources can often lead to a quiet, creeping exhaustion—one that many don’t notice until they’re already running on empty. This is compassion fatigue, and it’s more common in ministry than we like to admit.
Recognizing the signs early and creating rhythms of rest and renewal will protect your heart, your ministry, and your calling. As those entrusted with the care of those farthest from our own church, we must take seriously the call to serve and to rest.
Recognize the Signs
Compassion fatigue is emotional and physical exhaustion that comes from consistent exposure to the suffering of others.
We see it often in outreach leaders who are constantly pouring into others without creating boundaries to avoid jumping into every problem too deep.
It often looks like:
Emotional numbness or detachment
Increased irritability and/or anxiety
Feelings of helplessness or overwhelm
Difficulty sleeping
Loss of motivation in ministry work
Withdrawal from relationships
These aren’t signs of weakness—they’re signals from your body and soul that you need to slow down and reconnect.
Scripture gives us clear guidance that caring for others should not consistently come at the expense of our own spiritual and physical well-being. In 1 Kings 19, we see Elijah at one of his lowest moments—exhausted, afraid, and ready to give up. But God didn’t respond with a lecture. He gave Elijah rest. He allowed him to sleep, provided food, and let him spend time alone. Only after Elijah’s body and mind were cared for did God speak to him again, not in the noise of the storm, but in a gentle whisper. That moment of soul care—guided by God Himself—restored Elijah’s strength to continue his prophetic calling.
The pause Elijah took didn’t end his need or his calling to serve God—but it restored his ability to continue on with renewed strength and peace. As outreach leaders, we’re called to live out the gospel with compassion, but also to steward the life and health God has given us, and Elijah isn’t the only example in Scripture of that either! In Mark 6, Jesus told the disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” Even while ministering to many in a very limited time frame, Jesus still prioritized rest.
Practical Solutions
Taking steps today to recognize and respond to compassion fatigue will help prevent long-term burnout and sustain your ability to lead others well. While it may be overwhelming to think about implementing all of these strategies, start by choosing one that resonates with you, and make it a habit in your routine. With lots of prayer and strategies, you will likely find the symptoms of compassion fatigue start to dwindle over time.
Establish Healthy Rhythms of Rest
Rest isn’t a reward; it’s a rhythm that God designed for our good.
Mainly in the form of the Sabbath.
This week, block off intentional time to observe a 24 hour Sabbath day. Protect a full day where you’re not preparing for a program, returning calls, or filling in gaps. Use that time to rest, reflect, and reconnect with God. Regular breaks can reset your emotional balance and keep burnout at bay.
Boundaries around your time are not selfish—they are a form of stewardship.
Seek Support and Accountability
You’re not meant to carry the weight of ministry alone. Every outreach leader needs a support system.
Join a peer small group, meet regularly with a mentor, or schedule check-ins with a pastor or elder in your church. If you currently don’t have a brother or sister in faith that you feel comfortable sharing your struggles with, consider finding a Christian counselor to meet with instead. These relationships offer encouragement, wisdom, and a space to be real. Pastoral care in local outreach includes caring for those who care.
Schedule Time for Personal Spiritual Growth
Ministry can consume your time with spiritual tasks, but that doesn’t count as personal spiritual growth.
Carve out consistent time to be with God just for you, if you haven’t already.
This includes:
Reading scripture without planning a lesson.
Praying without a work related goal.
Worshiping without thinking about the next event or ministry ask.
You are more than a ministry leader—you are a child of God, and your soul needs care. As an individual, pour out your hurts, desires, and praise to God, and let His Spirit minister to you as a son or daughter, and not just a servant.
Practice Honest Reflection
Honest reflection builds awareness and leads to renewal.
Try to avoid running on autopilot, and pay attention to how you’re really doing.
It often helps to take time weekly to reflect on the impact of your mood and work on yourself and others. Keep a journal, pray through your highs and lows, or share honestly with a trusted friend.
Ask yourself questions like: Am I feeling joy in this work? What is God inviting me to surrender or receive today? Am I running on grace or grinding through grit?
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
If you feel like you're drowning emotionally, don't wait for things to get worse.
Talk to a trusted leader, counselor, or spiritual director. Reach out to someone who can walk with you through it. There is strength in admitting you need help, and healing often begins with a single, courageous conversation. Compassion fatigue isn’t a failure—it’s a signal that your heart needs care: like the care you offer so much to others.
If compassion fatigue turns into burnout or deeper emotional struggles, the fallout will be so much greater than an embarrassing conversation.
Conclusion
Caring for those who are vulnerable is at the heart of community ministry, but as you pour into others, don’t forget that we are all equally as vulnerable as the people we serve. However, what sets us apart is knowing that we are also deeply loved, valued, and cared for by God; He can handle it all for us. You are not a machine. You are God’s unique creation that must be cared for, filled, and renewed.
Remember, people don't suddenly become overwhelmed with compassion fatigue, and they aren’t immediately able to overcome it either. It takes consistent efforts, patience, and support from other Christ followers in order to run well the race that has been set before us.
Acknowledging compassion fatigue isn’t a sign you’re unfit for ministry—it’s a sign that you're human. And in the hands of our loving God, even your need for rest is holy.