After the Resurrection: Five Ways for Pastors to Recharge Post-Easter

Easter Monday arrives, and with it often comes an unmistakable wave of exhaustion. For many pastors, the weeks leading up to Resurrection Sunday are the most demanding of the year. Holy Week alone may include a Maundy Thursday service, a solemn Good Friday gathering, an Easter Sunrise celebration, and a joy-filled Resurrection Sunday. Layer in the extra responsibilities—choir practices, community events, egg hunts, decorations, and sermon preparation—and it’s no wonder that pastors often feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually spent by the time the last “Amen” is whispered on Easter morning.

And yet, few will acknowledge just how deep the fatigue runs. After all, Easter is the high point of the Christian calendar. We pour our heart, soul, and strength into it, wanting it to be meaningful, celebratory, and spiritually life-changing for those who attend—especially the guests and irregular attendees we hope will return again.

But after the resurrection comes rest. Even Jesus, following His resurrection appearances, did not rush. He walked alongside His disciples. He broke bread. He lingered in moments of quiet teaching and fellowship. That rhythm speaks to us today. If you’re a pastor feeling the post-Easter weariness, here are five ways to recharge your mind, body, and soul after a busy Lenten season.

1. Rest Without Guilt

Let’s start here, because it’s the most critical: You are allowed to rest. In fact, you're commanded to.

Sabbath was never a suggestion—it was designed into the very rhythm of creation. God rested, not because He was tired, but because He was modeling the need for holy pauses. Jesus often withdrew to quiet places, especially after great moments of ministry. If the Lord Himself knew the value of stepping away, surely we can follow His example.

After Easter, resist the urge to jump back in full speed. Instead, take a few days—or even a full week—away from the pulpit and the planning. Turn off notifications. Say “no” to non-urgent requests. Sleep in. Take a nap. Read for pleasure. Go for walks in nature. Watch a movie with your spouse. Simply be.

Rest isn’t laziness; it’s restoration. And when you rest well, you return to your calling with clarity and renewed energy.

2. Reflect on What God Has Done

It’s easy to rush past what God just did in your church in the busyness of moving on to what’s next. But the days following Easter are fertile ground for reflection.

Ask yourself:

• Where did I see God move in unexpected ways?

• What moments during Holy Week stood out?

• Who came to faith or returned to church after a long time away?

• How did God sustain me through this season?

Take time to journal your answers. Consider having a short debrief with your staff or volunteers—not for critique, but for celebration. Reflecting on the spiritual fruit of Lent and Easter reminds you that all the effort, prayer, and preparation was not in vain. It stirs gratitude and anchors your soul in God’s faithfulness.

This is also a time to review your own spiritual growth. What did the Lenten journey teach you? Where did God speak to you in the sermons you preached? Recharging begins with remembering, and remembering strengthens faith.

3. Reconnect with Life Outside of Church

During Lent and Holy Week, the church calendar dominates. It’s all too common for pastors to unintentionally neglect personal relationships, hobbies, and self-care in the rush to manage services and shepherd people.

That’s why Eastertide—the season after Easter—is a wonderful time to reconnect with the people and passions that make you who you are outside of your pastoral role.

• Take your spouse on a spontaneous date.

• Plan a weekend getaway with family.

• Call a friend and catch up.

• Dust off that fishing pole, paintbrush, camera, or golf club.

• Pick up that novel you’ve had bookmarked since Ash Wednesday.

God did not call you to be a machine. He called you to be a whole person—a pastor and a parent, spouse, friend, neighbor, and human being. Pouring into those other areas of life not only rejuvenates your soul, but also reminds you that your identity is not solely wrapped up in church leadership. You're more than your role.

4. Recalibrate Your Ministry Pace and Priorities

Post-Easter is the ideal time to take a deep breath and reassess the pace at which you’ve been moving. Ministry, especially in smaller churches, can sometimes feel like sprinting a marathon. But too many pastors burn out not because of the size of their workload, but because of the unsustainable pace at which they carry it.

Ask yourself:

• What have I taken on that I need to release?

• Where can I empower others to lead?

• What must be done now, and what can wait?

• Am I spending time on what aligns with our church’s “One Excellent Mission”?

Now is a great time to revisit your church’s mission and goals for the year. Align your calendar and workload around what really matters. Schedule regular days off. Block out planning retreats. Protect your time in the Word—not just for sermon prep, but for you.

And if Easter felt like it consumed you, maybe it’s time to reevaluate how much of the load you’re carrying solo. Renewal begins when we adjust the pace to a sustainable rhythm, one where you can thrive—not just survive.

5. Refresh Your Soul Through Silence and Solitude

After preaching multiple services, greeting hundreds of people, and coordinating countless details, your soul may be craving silence—even if you don’t realize it.

Silence and solitude are not empty—they are full of God’s presence. These disciplines clear the noise and create space for God to minister to you. Remember Elijah, who did not hear God in the wind, fire, or earthquake, but in the still small voice.

Plan a personal retreat day. Find a quiet place—maybe a cabin, a monastery, or a peaceful park. Leave your phone in the car. Bring a Bible, a journal, and no agenda. Just listen. Let God speak. Let your heart rest.

Pastors are constantly pouring out. But you can’t pour from an empty cup. Let God fill you again—not with to-do lists or vision plans, but with His presence and peace.

Bonus: Receive the Gift of Encouragement

It’s also okay to admit that after such a spiritually significant season, you might feel a little spiritually dry or emotionally vulnerable. That’s part of being human.

Reach out to someone who encourages you. Call a trusted mentor, a fellow pastor, or someone who speaks life into your soul. Let them pray for you. Share what the season took out of you. You’re not alone. If you have no one to call, call me!

Remember—your worth is not in how “successful” Easter Sunday was. Your value isn’t in the attendance count or how polished the service appeared. You are loved because you are His. And Jesus, the risen King, is also the Shepherd of your soul.

Final Thoughts: Embrace the Season After the Resurrection

Holy Week may be over, but Easter is just the beginning.

Don’t rush to the next sermon series or church project without allowing yourself to fully recover and rejoice. Embrace the slowness. Soak in the lightness of the post-Easter air. Smile more. Breathe deeper. Know that Jesus is not just alive for the congregation you lead—He is alive for you, the pastor, servant, and beloved son or daughter.

You gave everything this Lenten season, and now it’s time to receive again.

So rest well, dear pastor. Reflect on what God has done. Reconnect with the people and things that bring you joy. Recalibrate your ministry pace. And refresh your soul in the stillness of God’s presence.

You’re not just recovering—you’re being renewed.

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