In a church context, the Christmas season is more than just that… it’s a season of planning the next year, budgeting for those plans, and wrapping up the plans already in place. On top of that, there’s this little thing called: Christmas Eve services! Needless to say, it’s a busier-than-normal season.
But this post isn’t about Christmas or any one season in particular.
There’s a true story in the Gospels that never seems to get highlighted in leadership books.
Mark shares about a time when “so many people were coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31, NLT). Don’t miss this… Jesus, the Son of God, was running at a pace so intense that mealtime came and went without a single bite—and His disciples were right there with Him.
Then—almost immediately—Jesus says, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”
First they hustled. Then they rested.
Intensity that led to recovery.
Both are important!
But many churches have become really good at preaching only one of them.
Our modern culture is obsessed with “self-care.” And hear this… Sabbath is a command, not a suggestion. Our souls need regular rhythms of rest because burnout is real and ignoring our God-given limits is foolish.
But here’s the leadership principle nobody turns into a cute Facebook meme…
If you’re following Jesus, there will be times when He asks you to run so hard that you’ll sacrifice “self-care.” It may even cost you your life!
And if you’re serving God in vocational church ministry… you should basically count on it.
Not because ministry work is unhealthy.
Not because you’re unhealthy.
Not necessarily because you’re addicted to work (you might be…).
But because Kingdom work is urgent, and sometimes obedience will require a sprint.
We’ve swung the pendulum so far toward self-care that we’ve forgotten the other side: sacrifice. Those moments when God says, “This stretch matters. Keep pushing. Don’t stop!”
As far as we can tell, the disciples didn’t complain.
And, Jesus didn’t apologize, either.
The sacrifice they were making together was necessary for right then.
I’ve seen this too many times… For real! I’ve watched people over the last two decades decide that ministry should never be a hustle. They were convinced that anything beyond a simple 9-to-5 rhythm was unbiblical or unhealthy by default. Honestly? That’s sad. Ministry work requires grit—it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. People with no hustle in them—no willingness to sacrifice, run, be stretched, or sprint when the vision calls for it—they will faint or quit mid-race. Kingdom work will require more than a casual jog, my friend. Beware of Christian books that communicate anything else.
So what does a “holy hustle” look like today? And how can we move through those seasons without drifting into self-destruction?
Let me offer some ideas:
1. Identify Each Season You’re In
Not every month is supposed to be a hustle. But some will–we see you VBS week, Easter, and Christmas!
Healthy leaders learn to ask:
- Is this sprint something God is calling me into or is it self-inflicted?
- Is this intensity truly a “season” or does it never seem to stop?
- Am I being obedient or staying busy to avoid something else?
If God is pushing, He’ll provide clarity and unity to the Elders.
If you are pushing, you’ll sense pressure, comparison, and panic.
Say yes to God, no to ego.
2. If With an Empty Stomach, Run With a Full Heart
Sacrificial seasons don’t have to be miserable!
These moments of ministry “hurry” become unhealthy when:
- you stop spending time with Jesus,
- you disconnect from people, or
- you let bitterness replace the joy of sacrifice.
Jesus ran hard with compassion, with being present, with prayer, and with purpose.
If those go missing, it’s time to rest long enough to rediscover your “why.”
Don’t miss this… A clear and compelling vision will make or break your team.
Your team needs to know why they’re running, what’s waiting at the finish line, and where the finish line is. If there is no vision, hustle evolves into chaos. But when your team sees the mission clearly and sees the red tape pulled tight across the finishing threshold, they are more likely to run hard with confidence. If they are still unwilling: see When Leadership Isn’t Liked.
3. Build Rhythms of Micro-Rest
Even in a sprint, you still need to breathe.
In high school, I was a competitive swimmer. (I didn’t want to be, but it was a requirement to be on my school’s water polo team.) I’m convinced leaders can learn from swimmers here. Check this out…
A swimmer doesn’t stop mid-race to breathe, no! They do come up for air rhythmically—while they keep on moving. In a sprint, a swimmer might even go the whole length of the pool before coming up for air… but eventually they do. A great swimmer knows how (and when) to find oxygen without losing momentum. Ministry work is often the same: you find ways to breathe without stopping the mission.
Jesus didn’t disappear for long periods during heavy crowds.
He pulled away for a night. A morning. Into the wilderness, or even on a very scary boat ride.
Don’t underestimate:
- a 20-minute power nap
- a walk without your phone
- a slow morning after a heavy weekend (hello, 10am start times)
- date nights/days with your spouse and children
Little moments of rest sustain big runs.
Please don’t misunderstand me: You still need a weekly Sabbath. A Sabbath is our way of saying, “God, I believe that six days of blessed productivity is better than seven days without your blessing.” Sabbaths should be sacred, protected, and non-negotiable—even in a sprint. Especially in a sprint! Sabbath isn’t the reward for finishing God’s work; it’s God’s chosen fuel for doing it well.
4. Set Boundaries That Protect What Matters Most
Sacrifice should be strategic, not haphazard.
It’s okay to miss a few meals for ministry… but don’t starve your marriage or kids.
This is where healthy staff culture values matter. At Arundel Christian Church, one of our staff culture values is strategic flexibility. Here’s what this means:
Yes, we flex. But, not for the sake of flexing. And not because we’re disorganized or addicted to chaos.
We flex for a purpose, for a predetermined season, when God calls us to. Certain mission-critical moments will require this sort of flexibility.
CHEAT CODE: If you’re always hustling, that’s not a “season”—that’s a “problem.”
And here’s an important reminder… Your sacrifices will affect others, so keep that in mind. It’s fair to make sacrifices God has called you to make, but always consider how your choices often decide for others what sacrifices they must make. Your spouse and children will also make sacrifices for the sake of the Gospel, so use wisdom in ensuring that they’re not dragging behind you kicking and screaming. As far as we know from Scripture, Jesus and His disciples didn’t have children (and only Peter had a wife), so their relational context looked different than many in ministry. Therefore, be careful. Be thoughtful. Be gentle.
Ask:
- What must remain untouchable in busy seasons? (Play M.C. Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” here.)
- Where will I draw a line? (What guardrails need to be put in place?)
- Am I protecting my Sabbath?
- Who has permission to tell me I’m pushing too hard?
Jesus never sacrificed obedience, compassion, integrity, or time with His Father for the sake of pace, and neither should we.
5. Know Where the Finish Line Is
Notice that in the Mark 6 passage, Jesus doesn’t glorify exhaustion.
At the exact right moment, He says, “Enough. Let’s rest now.”
Some leaders only recognize when to stop running, missing out on the second very important part—rest!
If you never stop to recharge, your sprint will run you right into the ground.
Rest is not weakness.
And hustle is not holiness.
But each becomes unhealthy when done at the wrong time.
So Why Does This Matter?
Kingdom leaders need to learn how to do these two things well…
Run hard without losing heart.
And, rest well without losing mission.
Jesus modeled both—though He was usually running. Even better, He invites us into both practices.
And wise leaders know how to figure out which season the team should be in.
Maybe you’re in a sprint right now.
Maybe you’re in recovery.
Um… Maybe you’re pretending you’re in one when you’re actually in the other?
Once Jesus provides clarity, follow Him at His pace — even if it looks different than what modern culture says is in vogue.
A Few Notes to Leaders
- Hustle without rest = “No Fly Zone“
Create real opportunities for your team to take vacations. Build policies that encourage it. For example, at ACC we don’t allow staff to carry over more than five vacation days per year. Not because the Elders are jerks, but because we want to encourage our team to use their time-off proactively. Also, protect your staff and volunteers’ ability to attend weekly worship services with their families even at the expense of ministry excellence (God will take care of it). - Don’t expect others to hustle while you coast.
Jesus ran at the same pace He asked the disciples to run. Lead by example. - Don’t hire people who refuse to hustle.
If someone believes hustling is inherently bad, it reveals what they truly value—and how they prioritize (or don’t prioritize) Kingdom work. Beware of Kingdom-builders who stare at the clock every day as if it’s a virtue and refuse to take “work calls” during their personal time. While there are seasons of rest where these boundaries make sense (vacation time, Sabbatical, or Sabbath)… this shouldn’t be the norm. It would be wonderful if wolves only attacked sheep during “business hours,” wouldn’t it? Ministry is “on-call” work (with healthy boundaries). - When you know a “hustle” season is coming, communicate early.
Let everyone carb up! Give your team ample time to talk to their families. Set reasonable expectations. And above all—cast the vision clearly. Make sure everyone knows why the sprint matters and where the finish line is—including their family. - Celebrate afterwards!
When the busy season ends, affirm your team. Share stories of impact that show them how their sacrifice made a difference. This fuel is invaluable the next time they’re asked to run again.
Final thought:
As someone who could stand to miss a meal (or ten), I take great comfort in knowing that Jesus understands both hunger and hustle. As He took on flesh for me (and you), He is no stranger to sacrifice. Let’s follow His lead. [Double-knot those running shoes.]
Last modified: November 24, 2025
