As a women’s ministry leader, you’re an event planner, a teacher, a mentor, and a counselor. You’re on call when a woman is in crisis. You’re meeting with new moms, empty nesters, and women of every life stage in between. You’re developing discipleship programs to reach single, divorced, widowed, and married women. You’re planning Bible studies that are accessible for women whether they’re at home full-time or in the workplace. And added to all these ministry demands, you have your own responsibilities and cares.

The idea of rest isn’t new to you. You’ve probably encouraged other women to follow rhythms of rest, and you may have even organized a retreat on the topic. You’ve likely pointed women in your church to Jesus’s promise of rest in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” But do you follow your own counsel?

As a ministry leader, you likely have more people leaning on you and looking to you for care than you have people who are caring for you. This reality can subtly reinforce the false belief that your needs are less important than those of the women you serve. But in your role’s unique demands on your time, energy, and inbox, you’re “heavy laden.” Christ’s invitation to rest is for you, not just for the women you serve. So how can you practically look to Christ for rest amid ministry demands?

Identify Your Needs and Burdens

Jesus wants us to bring our worries and burdens to him because he cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7). But before we can do this, we need to consider what exactly is burdening us. Rather than living with a general sense of overwhelm, take time to identify how particular aspects of your role may feel burdensome because of how God uniquely created you.

Christ’s invitation to rest is for you, not just for the women you serve.

For example, if you’re an extroverted people person, the details of event planning may stress you out and make you feel like you’re always one step behind. If you’re deeply empathetic, being constantly called on with each new care crisis may leave you feeling tapped out and emotionally exhausted. Identifying areas of need can inform how you seek rest.

Remember God’s Character and Love

As we seek to meet the needs of so many others, it’s encouraging to remember that the God we serve isn’t needy (Acts 17:24–25). He always has infinite capacity to carry whatever we bring to him. He’s the God who never slumbers or sleeps (Ps. 121:4), but he doesn’t ask the same of us. Jesus isn’t a demanding taskmaster but a compassionate Elder Brother eager to give his yoke of rest in exchange for your burdens.

It’s only as you begin to truly understand his heart for you that you’ll trust him enough to make time for the rest you need. If God didn’t spare his own Son’s life to take care of our deepest soul need—forgiveness for sin—how much more will he provide all we need for rest amid ministry (Rom. 8:32). Even if you or others overlook your needs, God doesn’t. In contrast to the many who bring their needs and cares to you, Jesus offers to carry your burdens for you.

Accept Jesus’s Invitation

If we’re honest, Jesus’s call to come to him for rest often doesn’t feel as pressing as the items sitting on our to-do lists—the texts and phone calls we need to return, the events to arrange, and the meetings we must attend. I remember from my time serving in a women’s ministry leadership role that my own burdens were the least of my concerns most weeks. The other voices were much louder than Jesus’s. I trusted he’d wait for me with patience and gentleness, but I feared that the women I served would be disappointed, frustrated, or displeased if I didn’t respond to them promptly.

But we won’t find the rest we need or be equipped to care for the women we serve unless we prioritize our own time with the Lord. God has called you to this ministry role to care for his weary sheep, but your service doesn’t exempt you from needing him. Don’t let your time in the Word and prayer be crowded out by your to-do list. Come to Jesus first. Then serve out of the strength he gives you.

God has called you to care for his weary sheep, but your service doesn’t exempt you from needing him.

Consider what’s practically restful for you, particularly in light of the unique needs and burdens you’ve identified. What activities relax you, fill you up, or leave you energized? Is it reading a good book, taking a walk outside, doing a craft, or something else? Create a plan to regularly rest—daily, weekly, quarterly, and yearly—that includes time with the Lord and time for other activities that help you recharge.

Taking time out of your ministry work to rest may feel selfish—even impossible—at first, but this is a practical way you can demonstrate trust in God’s power to make your ministry fruitful rather than depending on your finite strength. A table’s been set for you, the event’s already been planned—Jesus invites you to come and enjoy the rest he’s prepared for you.