It’s Monday morning. Sitting here in my office, thinking about yesterday’s church service. Truly a powerful day: Great worship; great message from our lead pastor; great response from our people. We had a great crowd too. Afterward Laura and I met with our team leaders to collaborate on strategy for 2017. What a great group of leaders. Wouldn’t trade them for any other team. So much greatness yesterday… and I still feel wiped out.

Sometimes great doesn’t feel great. By all objective measures, Sunday was a smashing success. So why the depletion on Monday? Why am I not bursting with energy? Why does it seem like I’m almost defenseless against a flood of gloomy thinking? Pastor, can you relate to this? Even after a great Sunday, are there times when you don’t feel great? Do you ever wonder why your emotions are not tracking with reality? Why do we sometimes struggle with negative thoughts when greatness happened just a few hours ago? What forces are at work which fight against our happiness? I can think of at least three:

Spiritual warfare

Satan is never pleased when greatness happens. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 16: 9: “A great door for effective work has been opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” Those words make me wonder—do greatness and opposition go together? When greatness occurs, is it possible our sworn enemy reacts by trying to sow doubt in our minds? He whispers things like: “You’re not cut out for this.” Or, “You’re a fraud.” Or, “You’re going to fail.” Or, “You’re not the man for the job.” Or, “You should quit.” If we let him lie to us without fighting back, he can make great not feel great. Reject his attempts to pull you into despair. Resist him, and he’ll flee from you.

Sapped energy

Do you feel exhausted on Sunday afternoon? Most pastors give out a boatload of energy on Sunday. It’s like a 400-meter race. You go all out during the event, and when you cross the finish line, there’s very little fuel remaining in the tank. You’ve left it all out on the track. When we’re emotionally depleted, negative thoughts can run wild. I’m finding that some level of exercise on Sunday afternoon/evening—though it may seem counterintuitive when you’re tired—is therapeutic. Weariness can make great not feel great. Exercise is an effective antidote. It releases endorphins in our brain that reduce stress and lift our mood.

Solitude overload

Solitude is good in small doses. Introverts like me gain energy from alone time. But I’m learning sometimes introverts need energy from people. People who make us laugh. People we don’t have to be “on” for. People who don’t see us as pastors first, but as their friend primarily. Who love us no matter how we’re feeling. People who provide accurate perspective. Because when we’re tired, inaccurate thinking can rule the day.

I’m so thankful for the small group Laura and I attend. Our group meets two Sunday nights per month. And when I’m exhausted, those friends fill up my tank. They help me fight those forces that can make great not feel great.

So pastor, when this coming Sunday rolls around, and you’ve given it your best shot, and you’ve had a great day, but your feelings tell you otherwise, understand factors are at work which try to take advantage of your depleted condition. Tell the devil to take a hike. Get outdoors and take a hike yourself. Take a hike toward trusted, replenishing friends. I suspect these behaviors will increase the chances of great actually  feeling great.

I’m rooting and praying for you!