At some point in ministry, we start confusing busyness for faithfulness. We tell ourselves that exhaustion is just the cost of obedience - that being needed, stretched thin, and constantly available somehow means we’re doing it right.
But deep down, we know something’s wrong.
In this episode of Life After Ministry, Matt Davis sits down with his longtime friend Andrew Hartman to talk about what happens when time becomes our boss. Andrew shares how his own burnout - marked by real physical breakdown - became the turning point that changed his relationship with time and work forever.
This isn’t a conversation about calendars or to-do lists. It’s about trust, limits, and the grace of learning how to stop before it’s too late. For anyone in ministry who’s running on empty, this one might be preventative - so you never have to live life after ministry.
Key Takeaways
- Being busy for God is not the same as being faithful to Him.
- Stress isn’t proof of calling; it’s often a signal of fear or misplaced trust.
- Burnout is your body’s declaration of bankruptcy - an invitation to reorganize your life.
- Ministry culture often rewards overwork, but Jesus modeled a rhythm of rest and presence.
- True stewardship includes managing time as a sacred resource, not an endless debt.
- Building trust with time begins by creating small, consistent commitment plans.
- You don’t have to burn out to be fruitful. The work of God is sustained by the peace of God.
Chapter Markers
- 00:00 – Matt and Andrew reconnect after 20 years
- 01:43 – When “busy for God” became burnout
- 05:18 – The body declares bankruptcy on stress
- 07:03 – Solving the time problem
- 09:21 – Is burnout a failure or a signal?
- 13:52 – Fear, faith, and our emotional relationship with time
- 17:24 – How “commitment plans” build peace
- 19:10 – Leading others in stewardship of time
- 23:48 – What life looks like on the other side of burnout
- 26:33 – Teams that heal their pace together
- Learn more, donate, or schedule a confidential transition call at MinistryTransitions.com
- Explore Andrew Hartman’s resources - free masterclass, coaching, and tools - at TimeBoss.us
