Rest is not idleness—and it’s definitely not distraction.
Nickole Perry
Who is Nickole Perry?
Nickole Perry is the Director of Operations for Cedar Creek Ministries in Montana, where she serves alongside her family supporting pastors, ministry leaders, and their families. A wife of 20 years to a firefighter and a mother of eight, Nickole is passionate about helping leaders pursue excellence without sacrificing their health, faith, or family relationships.
She loves writing and speaking on practical tools ministry leaders can use to prevent burnout, strengthen their marriages and families, and grow in sustainable, Christ-centered leadership. Through her work in ministry operations, homeschooling, and publishing, Nickole equips leaders to build lives and ministries marked by endurance, clarity, and obedience to God.
Burnout in ministry is something we don’t talk about enough—but it’s something so many quietly carry.
This episode, Running on Empty: Burnout in Ministry, is especially close to my heart because it didn’t just come from curiosity—it came from a very real place in my own life.
Earlier this year, I found myself feeling burned out in ministry. My calling, which once energized me, began to feel… routine. Even boring. The fire I once had felt dim. And if I’m being honest, rejection played a role too. After being turned down by a potential guest, I started to question everything.
Was I on the right track? Was this really what I was supposed to be doing?
I had so many questions and not enough clarity.
So I did something I don’t always make time for—I slowed down. I set aside intentional space to reflect, to pray, and to process what I was feeling. And in that season, I reached out to Nickole Perry, Director of Cedar Creek Ministries, because I knew this was a conversation I needed—not just as a host, but as someone searching for answers.
From the very start, Nickole brought such honesty and enthusiasm. This isn’t just a topic she talks about—it’s a mission she lives.
Nickole understands burnout not as a distant concept, but as a lived experience. She spoke candidly about how easy it is for those in ministry to confuse calling with overextending. Somewhere along the way, many of us begin to believe that being faithful means exhausting ourselves—that sacrifice must equal depletion.
But what if that’s not what God is asking?
One of the most powerful takeaways from our conversation was Nickole’s perspective on rest. She challenged a misconception many of us hold:
Rest is not idleness—and it’s definitely not distraction.
Scrolling through Instagram, binge-watching Netflix, or losing hours to video games might feel like “switching off,” but as Nickole so aptly put it, that’s not rest—it’s anesthesia. It numbs us, but it doesn’t restore us.
What is rest?
True rest, she explains, is intentional. It’s life-giving. It reconnects us—with God, with ourselves, and with the people we love.
After all, even Jesus rested.
That truth alone should give us permission to pause.
What does Burnout in Ministry Look Like?
Nickole also offered insight into what burnout actually looks like. It’s not always dramatic or obvious. Sometimes, it shows up as quiet irritation. A growing frustration with the very people we are called to serve. A sense of heaviness where there was once joy. When ministry begins to feel like a burden instead of a calling, it may be a sign that something deeper needs attention.
And perhaps most importantly, she reminded us of this:
We were never meant to do ministry in our own strength.
Burnout often creeps in when we rely solely on ourselves—our effort, our energy, our capacity. But ministry was always meant to flow from dependence on the Lord, not depletion of the self.
Nickole shared practical, thoughtful ways to guard against burnout—creating rhythms of rest, setting boundaries, and cultivating a life that allows us to look forward to Monday morning, not dread it. That idea really stayed with me: building a life where ministry is sustainable, joyful, and rooted in balance.
This conversation left me reflecting deeply—and I hope it does the same for you.
So let me ask you:
Are you running on empty in your ministry? Are you truly resting—or just distracting yourself? What has helped you navigate seasons of burnout?
I’d love to hear your thoughts.
ENJOYED THIS PODCAST
You might also like our conversation on Meditating and Homeschooling. And if this blessed you, please share the podcast with someone who needs it.
