Author: Pastor Eli Maga, President of The Task
Rest is so sacred that the Lord included it in the Ten Commandments, alongside commands such as not committing adultery and not murdering. Yet, in practice, it may be the most neglected commandment by pastors and missionaries. Perhaps, for being considered something minor, its disobedience has produced devastating consequences in the lives and families of countless ministers.
More often than ideal, neglecting rest becomes the very doorway to falling into other sins. Many leaders, exhausted by ministry pressures and unable to find renewal, end up enslaved by pornography, alcohol, drugs, or even a hidden life of adultery. This reality is painful, still increasingly common. None of these behaviors can ever be excused as fall always exposes character. And yet, it is undeniable that the absence of healthy rest corrodes the minister’s soul. Rest restores, purifies, and strengthens, while relentless work pushes leaders toward the edge of the abyss.
I have met missionaries who simply could not stop, and pastors who worked more than ten hours a day without setting aside even a single day for rest. Some refuse to rest because they live under the crushing weight of expectations that, over time, become idols demanding the sacrifice of health and family. Others cannot pause because they rely too heavily on themselves, refusing to place their burdens in the Lord’s hands. Still others view rest, in a world where “time is money”, as an unforgivable heresy.
But the pressure does not always come from within. At times, they are criticized, judged, or even shamed by fellow believers, pastors, or missionaries when they dare to rest – still carrying another heavy yoke on their shoulders.
Some years ago, while on vacation, I sent a simple message of gratitude to my ministry partners – brothers and sisters who faithfully support my missionary work through prayer and finances. One longtime supporter replied with words that left me stunned: she said she did not believe missionaries should ever take vacations, especially since she herself had never been able to. For her, taking time off was a waste of both time and money. She even said she would stop contributing, because she did not want her offerings to support “someone at the beach.” I was speechless. That week, while at the beach with my family, I carried the heavy burden of guilt. Losing that financial partnership was significant to our budget, but even harder was uprooting from within me the seed of shame for simply taking a vacation with my family.
The church must rediscover the sacred value of rest and actively teach its pastors and missionaries to embrace it. Caring for their rest is essential if they are to remain faithful for the long run. Ministry is a marathon, not a 100-meter sprint. And without pauses, even the most beautiful symphony becomes nothing more than noise.
Ignorance and the Theology of Suffering
A subject as delicate as the others, but perhaps the least discussed, is the suicide of a pastor. It always causes shock, since rarely does anyone imagine that this could happen to a church leader. Many times, the pastor never had the courage to expose inner darkest thoughts; other times, the surprise comes because no one expects such an outcome in the life of a person of faith. The fear of opening up, however, is not without reason: in many churches there is still strong prejudice when it comes to depression and anxiety. If a Christian admits to struggling with suicidal thoughts, he/she is quickly accused of being possessed.
Ignorance shows itself when leaders reject seeking psychiatric help or the guidance of a Christian psychologist. Such a posture is incoherent, since we do not hesitate to use painkillers for headaches or anti-inflammatories for illnesses of the body. Even so, many resist accepting the use of antidepressants or anxiolytics when the soul is sick. Our souls do not exist in some ethereal plane, detached from our physical constitution; they function through a body that operates with neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Our brain’s health directly impacts our spiritual health.
I recall a leader who rebuked his assistant pastors, calling them lazy when, in fact, they were suffering from depression. Another, a prominent figure in his denomination, went so far as to publicly ridicule colleagues who used antidepressants, accusing them of being sinners without faith. It is not uncommon to hear statements that depression is evidence that an evil spirit is at work in a person’s life. Words and attitudes like these are not only contrary to Scripture but reveal, above all, profound ignorance.
There are strong indications that the prophet Elijah went through a depressive episode when, exhausted, he asked God to take his life (1 Kings 19:4). Job also plunged into deep despair, and his whole book is filled with feelings that echo the pain of his soul. Jonah, after prophesying in Nineveh, even wished for death (Jonah 4:8). Jacob, lamenting the loss of Joseph, expressed the same longing (Genesis 37:35). Even Moses, overwhelmed by the burden of leading the people, begged God to take him (Numbers 11:13-15). David, in several psalms, expressed deep anguish, despair, and loneliness: “how long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” (Psalm 13:2). Jeremiah, known as “the weeping prophet,” cursed the day he was born and bitterly lamented his own existence (Jeremiah 20:14-18). The apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, admitted facing such great tribulations that “we despaired even of life itself” (2 Corinthians 1:8). And the Lord Jesus Himself, in the Gethsemane shortly before the cross, declared: “my soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death” (Matthew 26:38).
These examples show that the suffering of a minister’s soul is not a sign of demonic possession but an expression of human fragility in the face of pressures, pains, and challenges that surpass our strength. This fragility is real and part of the human condition; therefore, we should not feel guilty for being tempted and weary, just as those men of God also were.
There is, however, a crucial point: even though many of them asked God for death, none took their own life. Here lies the great difference between Judas and Peter. Both, upon realizing the weight of their errors, were seized with deep anguish. Judas chose suicide, surrendering to defeat and the shame that consumed him. Peter, on the other hand, wept bitterly, recognized his weakness, and sought refuge among the other disciples. Judas lost hope; Peter believed and found redemption in Christ.
To overcome the painful reality of suicides among pastors and missionaries, we must begin by changing our view of depression. A Christian who is saved and redeemed may indeed face this illness – and that does not diminish his faith. God, in His grace, has also given us means of care: medications that help, therapies that strengthen, and resources that bring relief and restore hope. Seeking treatment is not a sign of spiritual weakness but an act of wisdom and trust in the God who remains our Great Physician.
If you have not yet read the first part of this article, click here > Caring for Those Who Care – Part 1
