Leadership is lonely. But it doesn’t have to be.
In our recent survey, pastors told us that one of the most powerful antidotes to burnout wasn’t more rest—it was more relationship. Specifically, spiritual accountability.
That might look like a trusted mentor, a fellow pastor, or a spiritual director—someone outside your immediate context who helps you see clearly when the view from inside is foggy.
Why does it matter so much?
Because every leader needs a spiritual mirror.
Someone who reflects back not just where you’re tired—but where you’re growing. Someone who sees past your title and reminds you that your calling is more than a job. A spiritual mirror isn’t there to critique you, but to clarify you. To gently ask, “Is your soul as healthy as your sermons?”
Take Pastor Nate, who leads a multi-site congregation. After a year of coasting in survival mode, his mentor asked one question: “Are you still leading out of intimacy with Jesus, or just out of muscle memory?” That one question led to a sabbatical—not as an escape, but as a renewal.
If no one comes to mind for you today, don’t wait. Reach out to someone you respect and ask if they’d be willing to meet with you once a month. Keep it simple. Make it sacred. Share your highs, your lows, your questions, your doubts.
You don’t need to carry this alone.
May 14, 2025 | The Leader’s Edge
