You keep hearing about it and maybe you are seeing signs of it in your own church. It sure feels good to watch the seats filling back up. A renewed interest in Jesus is an answer to prayer! When we picture revival, we imagine full churches, heartfelt worship, and people turning to Jesus in droves. It’s inspiring to think about. But here’s a sobering reality: recent pastor well-being research shows only about one-third of pastors describe themselves as healthy spiritually, emotionally, and vocationally, and a similar share have seriously considered leaving ministry in the past year.
That raises a hard but necessary question: What happens if revival breaks out when pastors themselves are running on empty?
Fragile Wineskins
Revival brings joy, but it also brings weight. There will be more people to disciple. More spiritual crises. More pressure on systems that are already stretched thin. If leaders are depleted before revival begins, the demands of revival may not strengthen them, it may break them.
It’s like pouring new wine into cracked wineskins. The potential is there, but without strong and renewed containers, much of what God pours out could be lost.
It’s Time for Renewal for Pastors
The good news is that God doesn’t call you to carry revival in your own strength. But He does call you to tend your own soul. Before you can guide others, you must be anchored in rhythms of renewal:
- Prioritizing rest and Sabbath.
- Building trusted relationships that provide encouragement and accountability.
- Caring for your body and emotions as acts of stewardship, not selfishness.
- Returning regularly to the practices that ground you in God’s presence.
When you take steps to renew your health as a leader, you become a vessel that can sustain what God wants to do through you.
The Vision: Revival That Lasts
The last thing any of us want is a short-lived revival, a flash of excitement that burns out as quickly as it began. For revival to last, leaders must be whole. Renewal in the Church must begin with renewal in its pastors.
Imagine what revival could look like if pastors were not depleted but strengthened. If they led not from exhaustion but from overflow. If revival became not another burden, but a joy they were fully equipped to carry.
That’s why your health matters. Before revival can sweep through congregations, it must first take root in you.
Safeguarding Your Leadership
We see you, Pastor. It’s not that you are weary of doing good, you are just plain weary. You want to finish well and you need help. You are exactly why we have been working for the last six months to create The Renewal Project. In 2026, we will be walking with groups of pastors for the purpose of encouragement, building deep peer connections, and addressing areas that are essential to sustain you and your leadership. Details will be rolled out in future blogs so keep an eye out! Better yet, email admin@loganleadership.com and let us know you are interested in The Renewal Project and we will send you updates directly and make sure you have priority registration!
Need Help Now?
Get a headstart with personalized coaching with Dr. Bob Logan. Dr. Bob is gifted at helping pastors identify core callings, bringing what matters most to you to the surface, and helping you make lasting changes with longstanding impact. Email admin@loganleadership.com and ask for a free 30-minute coaching session with Dr. Bob.