Sharpening the Axe: A Pastor’s Lesson on Rest and Renewal

I love being a pastor. I love the people God has called me to serve, and I love the work He has given me to do. What follows is not a complaint—it’s a confession about rhythm, rest, and the need for holy discipline. It’s because I love the work and the people so deeply that I needed to learn this lesson. And it is because of my love and admiration for other pastors that I want to share it with them.

Nothing I am sharing here is groundbreaking. It is something every pastor knows theologically and practically. But the rigor and weight of ministry make us forget. It is my hope that this brief article reminds us of what is so important. Our stamina, effectiveness, and ultimate long-term success in ministry depends upon it.

The Parable of the Two Tree Cutters

A few weeks ago, I had lunch with a man in my church whom I deeply respect. He is a community leader and he understands what it is to feel the pressures of leadership, responsibility, and stress. Over sandwiches and small talk, he told me a story I haven’t been able to shake.

Two men were cutting trees. One worked all day without a break, swinging relentlessly until sunset. The other took a long break every day at noon. Yet somehow, the man who rested always cut more trees.

When asked how that was possible, he said, “I spend my break sharpening my axe.”

The man who took a break every day to sharpen his axe was able to get more done in less time chopping. Not only did he have more energy to swing harder because of his break, but his axe was sharper and so every swing was more effective. It cut through the wood easier.

The lesson was clear. Better to take a break and work with a sharp axe than to labor endlessly with a dull one.

The man in my church sharing that story with me was not coincidental. It was intentional. He asked to take me to lunch so that he could share that story with me. He was worried about me. He saw my long hours. He saw my pressures. He saw my stress. I thought I was hiding it well. But he saw. He told me over lunch that day, “Pastor, I love you and I want you to be my pastor for many more years. I’m afraid if you don’t take the time to sharpen your axe, you won’t be.”

You see, that man knew what every pastoral survey tells us. Pastors are overworked and they are burning out at record numbers. We are approaching potentially devastating numbers of pastoral casualties in ministry. All because many pastors are tirelessly using a dull axe. 

My Week Away: An Emergency I Didn’t Know I Needed     

In light of that conversation, I decided to take an unexpected week-long family vacation to the beach. We had not taken one this year because of many issues: busyness at church and life, constant emergencies, family schedule conflicts, financial concerns, etc.  But I decided that man in my church was right. I needed to make sharpening my axe a priority or there would be consequences—eventually.

Now, on the backside of that vacation, I’ve returned to ministry after a week of rest. I didn’t think this vacation was an emergency, but looking back, it absolutely was.

In the stillness of the vacation, I realized how close I had come to emotional, physical, and spiritual burnout. I’d been pushing hard—maybe too hard—without realizing my edge had become dulled and rusted.

Being a pastor is a sacred privilege. This calling is a high gift from God. But let’s be honest: it’s heavy work.

As a pastor, you carry the weight of unrealistic expectations, the needs of hundreds of souls, and the never-ending “buzz” of your phone. Your “day off” is rarely “off.” Your prayer list could rival the length of a CVS receipt. You juggle hospital visits, counseling sessions, funerals, and sermons—all while trying to love your own family well — knowing they are too often getting the short end of the stick.

It’s precious work. But it’s also heavy work. And sometimes, the body gives out long before the spirit admits it’s tired.

Rest Isn’t Laziness—It’s Obedience

God modeled rest. Not because He was tired after creation, but because He wanted to teach us the rhythm of grace: work hard, then rest well—because your success depends not on your strength, but His. He modeled it because He knew we needed it modeled. We inherently overestimate our ability and our necessity.

When we overwork, we are saying something theologically in error. We are saying God needs us. And that is not true. God does not need us — we need Him. Rest is essential for our life of worship because it keeps us and God in the proper place in our minds, “He must increase, we must decrease.” (John 3:30) 

This week reminded me of this important theology of rest. Rest does more than refill your energy—it reorients your worship.

It’s possible to be so busy working for Jesus that you forget to walk with Jesus. Walking with Jesus requires rest. Pastoring well requires rest.

When the Waves Speak

I spent hours on the beach this week, just listening to waves crash. No music. No agenda. No phone or email notifications!

Here’s what I noticed: when you finally stop long enough to hear the silent roar of waves, you realize how much noise you’ve been living with—and how little silence your soul has known. The quiet feels almost deafening at first. But then, slowly, it starts to heal you.

When you stop working for a moment, you start seeing more clearly what God’s been doing all along. His provision. His purpose. His peace. They were always there—you just couldn’t hear them over the noise. Because when you work without resting, the work becomes a distraction. When you work with sufficient rest, the work becomes worship!

Coming Home Renewed

I’m heading home now with a stirred soul and a sharpened axe. 

Jesus never said, “Come and do.” He said, “Come and follow.” And following Him means resting in Him.

So I’m returning to the pastoral work I love—renewed, recharged, and ready to make much of Him. But this time, I’m bringing with me a renewed commitment to regularly step back and sharpen my axe.

A Word to My Fellow Pastors      

If you’re a pastor, work hard—but rest harder. The church needs your sharpness more than your stamina. And the byproduct of regular rest is it will actually improve your stamina for when you and your church truly need it most.        

Take the time to rest. Take the time to sharpen your axe. Your ministry depends on it.

A Word to the Church

If you’re not a pastor, pray for your pastor.        

Encourage him to rest.      

Insist that he rests.        

You may not fully know what he carries every day—but trust me, you don’t want your pastor swinging a dull axe.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”— Matthew 11:28

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Dr. Chas Rowland has been a pastor for more than 25 years and currently serves as Lead Pastor of Glen Baptist Church in Glen St. Mary, FL and is an Adjunct Professor of Historical Theology at William Carey University. He is a published author with Lifeway Christian Resources and is a proud graduate of Samford University (2000).