Pastoral Burnout And The Road Back To Health

Burnout isn’t a buzzword when you’re staring at the ceiling for weeks with no energy to move. I sit down with Mat Thomas, a former associate pastor, to talk about the kind of ministry burnout that hits your body, your emotions, and your faith all at once. Mat shares what it was like to realise he was spent, why the aftermath can include anger and grief, and how hard it is to make sense of giving so much to pastoral ministry only to end up feeling empty.  We also get honest about the pressures that don’t show up in job descriptions: the “this is how we do things” culture of established churches, the hyper vigilance of trying not to trigger another conflict, and the exhausting reality of pushing through endless admin just to get to the parts of ministry that actually bring life. Mat opens up about spiritual practices in a dry season, how journaling became a lifeline, and why even a retreat can feel crowded when your mind keeps snapping back to problems waiting at home.  We don’t skip the personal cost, either. Mat talks about the toll on marriage, the quiet strength of a supportive spouse, and why he’s now moving toward counselling because he still cares deeply about walking with people in the thick of it. If you’re a pastor, church leader, or volunteer feeling cooked, this conversation will help you name the signs, take rest seriously, and rethink the pressure to be someone you’re not. Subscribe, share this with a leader you care about, and leave a review if it helped. What part of this hit closest to home for you? If Sunburnt Souls has helped or blessed you in any way, can I ask a small favour? Would you consider telling someone about the podcast, reposting an episode link, or bringing it up over dinner with a mate sometime? Word of mouth is how this podcast spreads. We don’t have the budget for advertising, so every share genuinely helps more people discover the conversations we’re having around faith and mental health. 🙏 IF YOU WOULD LOVE TO SUPPORT THE MISSION Help us keep producing Christian mental health podcasts and resources that bring hope to listeners around the world and breaks the stigma in the Church. 👉 Donate to Sunburnt Souls. ALL DONATIONS OVER $2 ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. 📩 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY Get weekly encouragement, bonus podcast clips, and faith-informed mental health resources in your inbox. 👉 Subscribe to the newsletter ⭐ LEAVE A REVIEW Love this episode? Your review helps others discover faith-based mental health resources and find hope for their journey. Listen and Rate on Apple Podcasts Listen & Rate on Spotify Sunburnt Souls is produced by Pretty Podcasts — a Christian mental health production where faith meets real life through stories that heal the soul.