Embracing Self-Stewardship

A leader's journey from burnout to balance

The year 2020 started with what seemed like all the right moves. I was finishing my doctoral dissertation (as was my wife, Hannah), we were expecting our second son, I had accepted a significant administrative position at a university in my wife’s hometown, and we had moved in with my in-laws. I felt ready for these big changes—or so I thought.

But then March 2020 arrived, and COVID-19 upended everything.

As I worked to excel professionally, raise our young family, and navigate a global health crisis, my body began sending urgent signals. Bumpy hands. Eye twitches. A sore back. Sleepless nights. An ever-present sense of dread. Something felt deeply wrong.

My primary care physician delivered the wake-up call I needed: “Ben, you’re completely fine—just more than a little stressed out. You need healthier rhythms in your life.”

That diagnosis forced me to confront an uncomfortable truth: my approach to self-care was nonexistent. Yes, I prayed, read Scripture, tried to eat well and sleep when possible, and squeezed in the occasional vacation. But my career achievements and ambition reigned supreme. They had become idols. I needed to reclaim a vision of stewarding my relationships—with God, with myself, with my community, and with others—to live a healthy and fulfilling life.

The Example of Christ

As leaders, we’re shaped by a culture that equates success with self-sacrifice. Work 60-plus hour weeks. Grow the organization. Bring in revenue. Cast vision daily. This is the formula we’re handed. Now, many of us genuinely love the organizations we serve. But here’s a truth we rarely admit: there are times when we have nothing left to give. Even worse, we believe we can’t let anyone see this reality, lest our carefully constructed image—the self-assured, self-directed, confident leader—come crashing down. So, we disregard the stewardship of self, trusting that God will somehow bless our efforts as we build organizations for his glory.

But consider Jesus. There’s a reason Jesus retreated to pray to the Father. A reason he rested. There’s a reason he enjoyed fellowship with society’s outcasts. A reason he placed limits on his three-year ministry. As the Son of God, Jesus was fully divine—yet as the Son of Man, he was also fully human. Because of this reality, Jesus needed to steward his body, mind, and soul to effectively fulfill his mission.

If Jesus needed to care for himself, then you certainly do too.Jesus’ self-care rhythms enabled him to live out his mission effectively. We can follow his example by:

• Acknowledging our limits
• Spending intentional time in prayer and Bible study
• Listening to what our bodies are telling us
• Disconnecting from society’s manipulations
• Redefining our relationship with work and with others

When we do this, we become faithful stewards of ourselves, gifts to the world. While the Lord can multiply our efforts far beyond what we see, we may never witness all the fruit of our labor. What matters is that we remain faithful to the mission he’s placed on our lives.

The Stakes Are High!

The task of faithful, effective Christian leadership has never been harder—yet it has also never been more needed. Seen and unseen forces threaten to derail our work, divide us, and sow chaos. We’ve watched leaders fall because they neglected true, Christ-centered self-care. We’ve seen effective ministries continue even as leaders’ personal and spiritual lives crumbled behind the scenes.

This moment demands leaders with integrity, leaders committed to God’s work for the long haul. If you’re realizing you’re on the cusp of burnout, moral failure, or losing your faith, there’s still time to reverse course:

• Recover your relationship with God through prayer, Bible reading, and a life of worship and gratitude.
• Take stock of your health—physical, emotional, and spiritual. Rediscover playfulness.
• Build in Sabbath and solitude. Disconnect from the world’s rhythms and reconnect with God’s rhythms.
• Define what matters most this season. Is it raising young children? Stewarding a young organization? Be honest, then act accordingly.
• Establish stronger boundaries between work and life, and develop relationships with people who will hold you accountable in your walk with Christ.

If you commit to these practices, I believe God will honor your faithfulness and multiply your kingdom efforts.

An Ongoing Journey

I’m still on my own self-care journey. I still struggle with overwork. Society’s expectations still creep into my life. But I’m learning that God is ever-patient, ever-compassionate, ever-faithful to bless my work when I trust that he can do more with my meager efforts than I ever could on my own.

Take care of yourself, friend, and watch God work.

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Dr. Benjamin D. Espinoza serves as lead pastor of Riverstone Church in Avon, New York, and publisher of Aldersgate Press. He is the author of Good News About Self-Care: How Nurturing Your Soul, Your Self, and Your Sanity Honors God (NavPress, 2026). Ben serves on the boards of Houghton University, the Wesleyan Holiness Connection, and Teaching Like Jesus Ministries. You can learn more at benespinoza.com.

Dr. Benjamin D. Espinoza will be the featured speaker at the Men’s Luncheon at The Outcomes Conference 2026 in Dallas, April 28 – 30. Learn More and Register >>