When 'Doing It All' Starts Costing More Than You Realize
- Matthew Dillingham
- Oct 28, 2025
- 2 min read
When “doing it all” starts costing more than you realize.
Most pastors step into ministry with open hearts and rolled-up sleeves. They’re willing to do whatever it takes. Print bulletins, fix Wi-Fi, plan retreats, even balance the books, because the mission matters.
But over time, all that “pitching in” turns into exhaustion. The late nights. The missed family dinners. The creeping sense that something important is always slipping.
It’s not just tiring, it’s expensive.
The Real Price of Doing It All
Here’s what happens when pastors carry too much of the administrative load:
Lost Time: You spend hours each week on scheduling, emails, and logistics instead of discipleship and vision.
Decision Fatigue: Constant task-switching drains creativity and focus.
Team Bottlenecks: Staff and volunteers wait on you for approvals or information you don’t have time to organize.
Personal Burnout: You feel constantly behind, guilty, or reactive—rarely rested or ahead.
When you try to do everything, nothing gets your best.
The Myth of Stewardship
Many pastors resist help because it feels unspiritual or wasteful—“If I can do it myself, I should.”But stewardship isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about using resources wisely so your time goes where it has the most eternal impact.
When you delegate admin work, you’re not being indulgent—you’re being strategic. You’re multiplying your ministry’s effectiveness.
What It Looks Like When You Stop Doing It All
Imagine starting your week knowing:
Your calendar is organized.
Emails are sorted and prioritized.
Sunday’s communications are prepped.
Volunteer reminders are already sent.
That’s not luxury. That’s stewardship in action.
The Takeaway
Pastors aren’t burning out because they lack passion. They’re burning out because they’re buried in paperwork.
It’s time to stop doing it all yourself and start building systems and support that make ministry sustainable again.
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