When it comes to the subject of emotions, pastors tend to fall into two camps. Camp 1 believes emotions are meaningless and don’t matter. Emotions are to be ignored. And at the extreme layer of Camp 1… emotions are your sworn enemy. Camp 2 believes emotions are everything. If you don’t have a certain feeling (excitement, anticipation, warm-fuzzy-something), you can’t be used by God. In this camp, God isn’t present and working unless you feel some level of euphoria. At the extreme layer of Camp 2… emotions affirm your capability and worth.

Both Camps are unhealthy. They reflect the extremes of emotional awareness. Camp 1 favors the denial, diminishing, and degrading of emotions. Camp 2 seemingly can’t function without them. Health is somewhere in the middle of these two camps. The question is: where is the middle? I think it’s somewhere close to this: Paying attention to your emotions… but not being ruled by them. Paying attention to how you feel and why… but not allowing feelings to run the show. Tending to your emotions… but not letting them dictate your behavior.

For you of the Camp 1 persuasion, let me suggest a couple of thoughts:

You are an emotional being

You’re not just body and spirit—you’re a 3-part being: body, spirit and soul. And the soul component of your life includes your emotions. God created you with the capacity to feel. I’ve heard well-meaning Christians say: “If you take care of the spiritual part of your life, you don’t need to be concerned about your emotions.” To which I respond: “So if I take care of my spirit, there is no need to pay attention to my body? I can eat whatever I want and be a couch potato with no negative effects on my health?” You have a built-in emotional component that needs care.

You gotta have a plan

Like most pastors, I suspect you’re busy. Without intentionality, your emotions will usually take a back seat. You’ll ignore the need for regular recharging of your emotional batteries. And when those batteries go dead… there’s no way to jump-start them. When the batteries are out of juice, it takes a long time to replenish them. Camp 1 pastors—you gotta have a plan. Be intentional about filling your emotional tank: Set a reasonable pace. Hang out regularly with replenishing people. Date your spouse and children. Laugh every day. Exercise at least 3-4 days per week. Find a hobby that periodically distracts you from the serious nature of the pastorate. Get enough sleep (7-9 hours every night.)

For you of the Camp 2 persuasion, let me suggest a couple of thoughts:

You don’t have to feel excited for God to use you

God’s plans and purposes don’t hinge on how you feel Sunday morning. Or Monday morning. If you feel cruddy emotionally, acknowledge it. Try to figure out why you’re feeling what you’re feeling. But remember God can use you even when your feelings aren’t cooperating. Now… if you’re suffering with major depression, that’s another matter. Get the help you need right now. See your doctor, get into counseling, find a mentor, and get healed up. What I’m writing about here is not an antidote to full-blown depression. Rather, the focus here is those negative feelings that flit in and out of your mind on a weekly basis. “Can I do this? Can I pastor these people? Do I even want to do this?” And those fleeting feelings can trick you into thinking you’re unfit for the role. Brush those negative speculations aside. God can use you even when your feelings tell you otherwise.

Be faithful and diligent

Faithfulness and diligence aren’t sexy. But they steady us when our emotions are rollercoaster-like. When you feel discouraged, keep planting and watering. Continue loving your team leaders and pouring into them. Keep teaching and pastoring your people. Pray for them regularly. Build relationships with community leaders over coffee. Show practical love and concern for those in your city/town/village who are in need. Faithfully and diligently do what you can. Show up every day, no matter what your emotions might be telling you. And then leave the rest to God. It’s His church not yours. He loves your people and your community more than you do. Do your part… and God for sure will do His.

Camp 1 and Camp 2 leaders: Pay attention to your emotions… but don’t be ruled by them. If your emotions have crashed, there’s nothing left in the tank, and you don’t know where to turn, I’d love to strike up a conversation with you. I’ve been there, and with the help of some unbelievably awesome people, have figured out how to weather the emotional storm and thrive once again. You can reach out to me at [email protected]

I’m rooting and praying for you!