Five Reasons Many Pastors
Struggle With Depression
Many pastors really do struggle with depression.
Most church members have no idea their pastor was depressed. They don’t
know until they are awakened to the reality of some of the dramatic
consequences of the depression: broken marriages; sexual affairs; resignation
from ministry; and even suicide.
If you are a pastor reading this post and you are struggling with
depression, please get help. Too many of you pastors have been taught that
depression is a sign of failure in ministry, that it is something that must be
hidden from view. Those are lies, blatant lies. Please get help. Now.
But the primary purpose of this post is to explain the precipitating factors to
depression. More clearly, these are the five primary causes pastors identified as
the reasons behind their depression. Each of the causes is followed by a direct
quote from pastors who shared with me their struggles.
1. Spiritual warfare. “I don’t mean this in a profane way, but there was
a point in my ministry when all hell broke loose. I can’t explain the
attacks any way other than spiritual warfare. The Enemy was intent on
destroying my ministry, and I began to spiral downward emotionally.”
2. The surprising reality of pastoral leadership. “I wish someone had
told me how tough it is to be a pastor. My single counsel was to preach
the Word, and I understand the priority of preaching. But, after a year
or so in my first pastorate at age 31, I saw the underbelly of local
church life. I was just caught off guard. And it took me some time
before I realized I was truly depressed.”
3. Sense of inadequacy. “My church is declining. While I don’t get hung
up on numbers, my members started talking about the decline. And
when we had to delete a position because we could no longer pay the
person, I really begin to hit rock bottom. I felt like it was all my fault.”
4. Critics and bullies. “Pastoral leadership really can be a death by a
thousand cuts. It’s not any one person or criticism; it’s the constant and
steady stream of criticisms. It wears on you. My depression came on
gradually, so by the time I was in deep depression, I did not see it
coming.”
5. Loneliness. “It’s really hard to find a true friend when you are a
pastor. And when you have no one to talk to about your struggles and
questions, life can get lonely. That is why Church Answers has been a
God-send to me. I get to ask questions and share my struggles in a safe
place.”
The pastor in number five mentioned Church Answers, a dynamic community of
church leaders. It’s a place where you can get your church questions answered
24/7. And, more importantly, it’s a place where you will never feel alone. I urge
you to become a part of this community while it is open this week. It may
be one of the best decisions you make in ministry.
Depression is real with pastors. It seems to be pervasive. May we who serve
alongside them, staff and laity alike, take a few minutes a day to pray for our
pastors.
It could very well be one of the most important ministries we hav
