I have found recent months to be really tiring and I don’t admit this lightly.

I don’t really like talking about my own tiredness as a ‘shepherd’ – I want to focus on the needs of the ‘sheep’ and they have all been through so much this year, but I think it’s important to be an authentic leader and own how I’m feeling. I know many other leaders are also feeling the same and there are numerous reasons why this is the case.

1. We’ve been through a reinvention of everything we do over recent months and it is hardly surprising that emotional fatigue is present. Leaders have contended to keep churches active and learnt many new skills along the way. I’m sure we haven’t got everything right and we have lots to learn, but I think church leaders deserve a pat on the back. If you are a church leader you probably need to be kinder to yourself and if you are a church member, why not offer a simple expression of appreciation to your leaders (it will probably mean a lot to them right now)

2. I’ve also heard some express apprehension for the months ahead. Many are now realising that church online shouldn’t just be a temporary solution for the lockdown period. Although there is much eagerness to get back into buildings for corporate gatherings, the advantages of engaging in the digital world are numerous – and many leaders are asking how we do ‘both’ in the future. But here is the dilemma – we were busy before the lockdown doing ‘in person meetings’, we have been busy during lockdown doing’ ‘online meetings’ so how on earth can we possibly do both together? I will be adding some thoughts on this in the months ahead but just the thought of it is proving tiring for many

3. We’ve pastored complex situations and led staff teams from a distance and it is tiring. Our screen time has just gone through the roof and whilst we are all grateful for the use of video and telephone calls, they do lack some of the replenishment we can often get from in person connections

But for now I want to simply appeal to us – to remind us that the future needs us to be renewed and recharged.

If you are tired, drained and feel like you are only just making it through from week to week then I urge you to address this as an absolute priority. The future needs us renewed and recharged – the future needs the best, freshest version of us.

Annual Leave

Many staff teams have cancelled their leave during the lockdown simply because they didn’t want to waste it under lockdown conditions. It has meant many of us have gone way too long without a break – we should look to fix this and take some time out asap.

Rhythm for the month ahead

With government guidelines and policies changing on a regular basis it is likely that none of us can establish consistent working rhythms for the many months ahead – but maybe we can create an outline for the next 4 weeks or so. Be clear about your expectations and the tasks you need to complete. Determine the emphasis you need to make and look at how you can best timetable this into a working week that guards time off

Reading space

Let’s make the most of the summer and find times to get outdoors. Take a good empowering book with you and let it stir your soul

Healthy Lifestyle

I’ve heard numerous people share how they have eaten more and exercised less during the lockdown. I’ve heard others reference unhealthy patterns of consuming alcohol as well. Change it up today – eat well, drink well, exercise well and be well

Emphasise what you can do and not what you can’t

There are things we still can’t do but don’t get bogged down by these restrictions. Celebrate what you can do

Wait upon the Lord

When we are full to overflowing with the work of the Holy Spirit it changes everything – our thoughts, outlook, perspective, attitudes, judgement and words. Wait upon the Lord and be filled afresh (see a short video below where I talk about this)

Be fully charged

If we use our phones more than we charge our phones then our phones stop working – the same is true of us. You may be tempted to give your low phone battery a quick 5 minute charge to get you above the 10% mark but it will constantly be running close to empty. Put your phone down and let it charge up fully – likewise let’s make sure we sufficiently stop ‘doing’ and get fully ‘charged’.

The future needs us fresh and fully charged for the days that are ahead.