It should be no secret. Ministry can wreck you. Spiritually. Mentally. Physically. Emotionally. I work with a lot of pastors and the comments are like a chorus that’s being sung over and over by so many.
Wayne Cordeiro’s Leading on Empty is not just another leadership book. It’s a wake-up call for every leader who’s ever wondered if they can keep going… and for those who haven’t realized yet that they’re dangerously close to the edge.
I just finished reading it, and I’m still sitting in the weight of it all. This isn’t theory. This is the honest, gritty story of a pastor who hit the wall—hard—and the way God met him in the middle of his burnout. If you’re leading in ministry, especially in the church, and you haven’t read this book yet, stop everything. Read it. Then read it again. Your soul is too valuable to ignore. If you’re not in ministry, this is a great window into the daily battle that many pastors and ministry leaders face.
Burnout Isn’t a Buzzword. It’s a Battle.
Cordeiro, founding pastor of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu, was leading one of the fastest-growing churches in America. From the outside, it looked like success. But inside, he was depleted. Exhausted. Numb. He describes waking up one morning and realizing, “I had nothing left to give.” The scary part? He is by no means the exception—he’s the mirror for many in ministry leadership positions.
Pastors, church staff, ministry leaders—how many of us are sprinting on fumes? We’re busy preaching grace but living like it doesn’t apply to us. We tell others to rest in Christ while wearing our exhaustion like a badge of honor. That disconnect is not only dangerous; it’s deadly.
Cordeiro pulls no punches. He names the lie that so many have come to believe: that the church can’t survive without us. He calls out the internal pressure to do more, be more, give more, until there’s nothing left. And then he gives us a better way—one rooted not in striving, but in sustainability.
Key Takeaways (That Might Just Save Your Life)
- You can’t give what you don’t have. Ministry flows from overflow, not obligation. If your cup is dry, what are you pouring out?
- Your soul has limits. Cordeiro introduces the idea of a “personal sustainability plan.” It’s not selfish; it’s stewardship. Build your life with regular rhythms of rest, exercise, solitude, and joy.
- Rediscover your life-giving zone. Not everything you do fuels you. Learn the difference between what drains you and what feeds your soul—then adjust accordingly.
- Sabbath is not optional. It’s not legalism; it’s life. Cordeiro learned (the hard way) that even Jesus rested—and we’re not stronger than Him. If we’re not finding regular rhythms of intentional and total rest, we will hit the wall and for many that crash is something they can’t come back from at all.
- You’re not alone. Perhaps the most healing part of the book is knowing you’re not crazy, weak, or faithless. You’re human. And God meets us there.
From Empty to Alive
This book doesn’t just describe the problem; it models the path to restoration. Cordeiro talks about stepping away, going to a monastery, walking by a lake, journaling, and letting God speak into the silence. The book itself becomes a quiet retreat—an invitation back to the God who called you in the first place.
Cordeiro’s book should challenged us. Convicted us. Comforted us. But more than that, it invite us to live and lead differently—to stop pretending that burnout is just part of the calling.
Final Word to Fellow Leaders
We don’t need more heroes in ministry. We need more healthy leaders. Leaders who know how to say no. Leaders who lead from rest, not adrenaline. Leaders who take care of their souls before they try to save someone else’s.
Don’t measure yourself by what someone else can do. We don’t all run at the same speed or with the same capacity. You need to be self aware.
If you’re running on empty, this is not the end. It might just be the beginning of something better. God doesn’t need you burned out. He wants you whole.
Take the time. Do the work. Read the book. Let God refill what’s been running dry.
It’s got to be tough. My wife teaches Math. Her brain relief is putting puzzles together which I don’t do but I read, workout, etc. – she reads a lot more than I, and she is much faster at it than I. Life and stress can be daunting but for some reason this helps her beyond her devotional time.