When Time Becomes Our Boss
At some point, the calendar filled up and we decided that meant we were doing something right. The meetings, the sermons, the counseling sessions — the endless stream of “yes.” Somewhere between the calling and the chaos, busyness became the badge of faithfulness.
And for a while, it even felt holy. We were busy for God. But quietly, something shifted. The work that once gave life started taking it. Spouses began to carry the cost. Rest became guilt. And we started believing that exhaustion was just the cost of obedience.
But it’s not. It’s a sign that something deeper has gone off course.
The Unholy Alliance Between Calling and Control
Many leaders begin ministry with a simple desire: to serve God and people well. But over time, that devotion can morph into an unholy alliance between calling and control.
We begin to believe that if we stop — if we step away, if we don’t respond, if we rest — the work might fall apart. So we stay in motion. We keep proving our worth one hour at a time.
But the truth is, that constant motion isn’t always obedience; sometimes it’s unbelief. It’s the subtle refusal to trust that God can hold what we cannot.
Psalm 127:2 says, “In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for He grants sleep to those He loves.” The Hebrew phrasing here literally means “God gives to His beloved even in their sleep.” What if the greatest acts of leadership begin when we stop trying to control what only God can sustain?
When Time Becomes the Boss
Most of us wouldn’t say time runs our lives — but we feel it. The anxiety of unfinished tasks. The calendar that never opens a window. The quiet guilt that tells us we’re always behind.
This is what Andrew Hartman calls “time becoming the boss.” It’s when our schedules no longer serve our purpose — they become the purpose. When we can’t distinguish what’s essential from what’s merely expected.
Burnout, as Andrew says, isn’t failure; it’s our body declaring bankruptcy on the way we’ve been living. It’s the physical manifestation of spiritual imbalance — a warning that the pace we’re keeping is no longer compatible with the life God intended.
The Gospel of Enough
At the heart of this is a deeper belief issue: we don’t actually think there’s enough. Enough time, enough energy, enough margin. And so we live like orphans — scrambling to prove our worth and protect what we fear losing.
But the gospel whispers a different word: enough. There is enough time to do what God has actually asked of you. There is enough grace for what you’ve already dropped. There is enough presence in Christ to fill the gaps you can’t control.
Jesus never glorified hurry. In fact, He moved at the speed of love — walking, pausing, withdrawing to pray, stopping for people others would have rushed past. He never confused movement with meaning.
When we begin to trust that, time starts to loosen its grip.
Relearning the Rhythms of Rest
Rest is not weakness; it’s worship. It’s how we remember who the real Boss is.
Relearning healthy rhythms of time begins not with a new calendar system but with a theological conviction: God is already at work, even when we are not. That realization allows us to build boundaries without guilt and make commitments without fear.
Andrew’s “commitment plan” framework reflects this truth — creating trust structures for our time so we can release what we can’t control. These small shifts in stewardship lead to peace: fewer emergencies, deeper presence, and space for the Spirit to work.
Before It’s Too Late
This episode — and this conversation — are preventative. It’s about changing the story before you have to recover from burnout, before your spouse has to carry the fallout, before your calling becomes something you survive instead of enjoy.
For many leaders, that begins with a confession: I’m tired. From there, the Spirit does what He’s always done — He rebuilds us slowly, honestly, mercifully.
So if you feel like time has become your boss, take that as a sign of grace. God might be inviting you to hand Him the clock again.
Closing Invitation
You don’t have to run faster to prove you’re faithful. You can lead at a sustainable pace that honors both your calling and your humanity.
If you’re walking through burnout, transition, or succession — or simply need to talk with someone who understands the cost of ministry — visit MinistryTransitions.com. You can donate to support a leader in transition or book a confidential conversation about what’s next.
Because faithfulness was never meant to feel like panic.
With 25+ years in faith-based executive leadership, Matt Davis knows the wins, the losses, and everything in between. As Executive Pastor, he led a team of 140+, tackling the challenges that come with big vision and real impact. As President of Ministry Transitions, he guides churches through tough leadership changes. Matt and his wife, Marilee, host the Life After Ministry Podcast, where they dive into real talk with former pastors who’ve found their kingdom assignment beyond church walls - unfiltered stories of grit, growth, and God’s purpose beyond the pulpit.
