The Weary Leader’s Guide to Burnout: A Journey from Exhaustion to Wholeness

by Sean Nemecek, Glenn Packiam (Foreword)

In The Weary Leader's Guide to Burnout , Sean Nemecek takes Christian leaders on a journey from burnout through recovery and on to spiritual transformation. By understanding the causes and symptoms of their burnout, these leaders will be ready to take practical, actionable steps toward wholeness. Then, if they choose, they will be poised to do the inner work of spiritual transformation by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. In the end, these leaders will emerge from burnout more confident in Christ, more connected with others, and with greater purpose, courage, and grace in their leadership. This book integrates biblical interpretation, theology, psychology, and contemplative spirituality into a holistic approach to recovery. It is filled with relatable stories of church leaders who have walked this path and includes discussion questions for personal contemplation or group discussion. The Weary Leader's Guide to Burnout will help pastors and Christian leaders develop an integrated approach to life, work, and ministry through healing and spiritual transformation.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Faith

272 pages, Paperback

Published March 28, 2023

About the author

I work to bring new hope and health to hurting pastors and their families. During my 18 years as a pastor, I went through serious ministry burnout. To recover I needed help but didn’t know where to turn. So, I built a team of people to help me— a friend, a mentor, a coach, a spiritual director, and a counselor. This approach was expensive and time-consuming, but it worked.

Now, I provide the support to other pastors that wasn’t readily available to me. Since joining PIR Ministries in January of 2020, I’ve helped many pastors and their spouses navigate burnout, forced exit, or other ministry stress. My first goal is to be a friend — someone provides a safe space for pastors to be themselves without asking anything from them. If these pastors choose, I also offer clergy coaching, ministry assessments, or mentoring.

Reviews

[Matthew Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow!

I have read many books on leadership and burnout, but I was blown away by this book. Sean really knew what he was talking about and in a relatable way. The questions after each section were thought provoking and deeply penetrating. This is a great book to get if you are wondering if you are dealing with burnout and is a great first step, but Sean does great work to help you along the journey to recovery and provides helpful suggestions so that you can be a better leader. If you know someone who is burnt out, get them this book and read it with them and help them along in their journey.

[Traci Rhoades · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're close to burnout, or well into it, or adjacent to someone who might be, this book will help. Honestly, I guess that covers about all of us. Great use of scriptural examples, softly targeted to those in ministry (although I think its scope goes beyond that), and written from personal experience, this book is a compassionate companion. I'm thankful it's available.

[Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommend this for anyone in Christian leadership who think they might be burned out or headed that direction. The author is helpful in helping uncover the causes of burnout, whether internal (choosing overwork/underwork, overly idealistic, past trauma, etc.) or external (highly critical environments, isolation, family-related issues, etc.) or some combo of both. I really appreciated how he ends the book with a section on putting pieces in place to prevent future burnout and how we can even become "better after broken". But the best part, as trite as it might sound, is how the key to getting out of burnout and staying out is linked to knowing oneself (strengths/weaknesses) and being secure in the love and grace of God in Christ.

[Jodie Pine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who has been, is going through, or is currently on a trajectory toward burnout. Sean describes burnout as "what happens when our inner life with God is no longer able to sustain our outer work for God."

Biblical and personal examples in the book flesh out what burnout can look like for different types of leaders, with a heavy focus on the need to address one's inner life.

The book is divided into three helpful parts: Understanding Burnout, Recovering from Burnout, and Resilience Against Burnout.

"Your burnout is something God will make beautiful if you are willing to let his Spirit do the work of rebuilding your soul."

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing out of his own recovery from burnout, Sean Nemecek has provided a knowledgeable and relatable resource for exhausted leaders. He clearly expresses what burnout is and what it isn't, how to recognize when you are burned out, and how to recover and lead a joyful life from that place of brokenness. Sean is a wise friend who can be trusted to walk alongside readers as a guide on the path to healing and wholeness. I highly recommend this timely resource to ministry leaders and anyone who desires to better understand the heart of Jesus's invitation "Come to me, you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

[Bill Gaultiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly a good read. I especially appreciate that Sean Nemecek shares his own story of being a weary Christian pastor who burned out, recovered, and learned how to live and minister with sustainable and renewing rhythms of life. You'll find "The Weary Leader's Guide to Burnout" engaging with real life stories and examples. Plus it is filled with key Scriptures, questions to assess burnout, and tools for recovery and growth in the wholeness of Jesus.

Also Sean does a great job speaking on recovery from burnout and coaching pastors and leaders.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D.
CEO, Founder, Psychologist
Soul Shepherding

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a pastor and licensed counselor and this book instantly became a resource I will turn to often. I'm currently on my second reading of it. It is practical, insightful, and deeply spiritual. Sean has poured his heart into this book and it shows through the personal anecdotes and wisdom that only comes from experience. Not only does he clearly define what burnout is, but prescribes time-tested practices to recover and never burn out again. Don't just read this book, practice it.

[Kristi Gaultiere · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read for weary leaders seeking a path to healing, growth, and renewed purpose. It is an empowering resource that offers both insight and guidance, helping readers navigate their journey towards healing. A Weary Leaders Guide to Burnout is also a great resource for those in relationship with a weary leader.

[Noah Filipiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so helpful to me. I flirt with burnout all the time through overwork and struggling with boundaries. God spoke to me through this book in profound ways, with things finally clicking that others have tried telling me in the past.

I will be rereading this and have already recommended it to another pastor struggling with burnout.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on pastoral burnout. It covers everything required to get your head around pre-burnout symptoms, the valley that it is, and the slow road to joy and wholeness. I began reading this at an unhelpful time, but finishing most of it more recently convinces me it’s 5 stars.

[John Scarbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read as a Pastor, not understanding what I needed to do to keep myself refreshed to be the best Leader I can for my Church and the people of my community. I would recommend this to anyone in church leadership, or leadership in general. Of if you are just burned out in life.

[Dale Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good.
I think maybe I thought it would be more preventative than responsive but I’m glad it’s here for those in the middle of burnout. I assume it will be a good resource to come back to again and again.

[Matthew Richey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found the diagnostic section helpful. Not sure about the solutions, but still working through it.

[Dave Pettengill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a practical and helpful book. I would definitely recommend it to those in ministry who are going through suspected burnout or even for those in ministry who want to avoid it

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

What pastor hasn’t skated dangerously close to burnout the last three years? I know I have. Our church culture fosters it with its emphasis on numbers and multitasking. Pandemic emotional and occupational stress escalates it beyond bearable measures for many. This book helps us realize it isn’t inevitable, and there are healthy ways to walk back from that abyss.

I’ve especially benefitted from the section on differentiating self from all the things we do and have to be for others—differentiating from those other people themselves to maintain our own identity with God. Writing down the childhood vows I made to myself was revealing.

For anyone who needs healing or a clarifying lens to see what burnout, or nearing it, could be doing too you and your ministry, I recommend Sean’s book.