Unintended Sabbatical

Chaplain, who is Your Counselor?

As Chaplains and pastors, we need to continue to grow and take care of ourselves, or we risk burnout and fallout. The one thing I have always found the most value in concerning selfcare and growth is other men and women who have traveled the road I am on. Chaplains need to keep their eyes open for those who have some wisdom and experience that they lack. They have come before us and can provide counsel to us spiritually, relationally, professionally and mentally.

It is very easy in ministry to feel like you are going at it all alone. You are the only chaplain in your battalion/unit. No one else can quite understand your role or what is on your shoulders. Also, in the National Guard and Reserves, you rarely have contact with supervising chaplains. Therefore, at times you are going to feel distant and alone in your mission.

For most, it is the same in our civilian roles as well. If you serve in the church, you feel disconnected. A vast majority of pastors feel they have no close friends and are burned out with the load they carry. Barna found the 65% of pastors report feelings of loneliness and isolation at times with 18% saying they feel that way frequently.

In ministry, we are called to an important role of providing pastoral support and care to people no matter our situation. This is a proud and important calling. But we need to be aware that God never intended for chaplains or pastors to go at it alone. Scripture is full of examples of ministry being done in teams and in pairs. Never alone.

The apostle Paul found it important that the younger Timothy and others have a role model who poured into them. Paul took that responsibility, so those leaders always had trusted guidance and encouragement. Also, Paul never did ministry alone although he traveled far from home. He always had a team, and he was investing in that team and leaning on that team.

My strongest times in my ministry and life have been when men in my life took me under their wing. I had this in college and at various times in my life and ministry. It was nice not to have to look for these role models, but the support was offered or built into my position.

However, at times the support was not volunteered, and I had to seek out mentors. Maybe you are at a point in life where no one is providing you mentorship. I encourage you to aggressively seek out several mentors. I found that asking one person is good, but more is better. The book of Proverbs is clear that having more counselors is better.

Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established. Prov 15:22

For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 24:6

It is worthwhile finding those people that you respect and ask them if you could reach out occasionally, to pick their brains on things. Connect with different men/women for different areas of life. As a man, when I find a man that excels as a husband and father, I want to follow their example, so they are on my list of mentors. The same for men who lead well or do ministry well. I encourage you to do the same if you want to grow and avoid burning out.