On July 16, 2026, Eric Mason announced that he is stepping down as pastor of Epiphany Fellowship after describing the past year as “the hardest year of his life.” From what he has shared publicly, his decision was driven by significant mental health struggles and a desire to focus on his relationship with the Lord, his family, and his recovery. Although I have had serious concerns with Eric Mason’s approach to certain social issues and have disagreed with his perspectives on race and the church, his announcement did raise an important conversation about the mental health of pastors. 

When I read his post, my first thought was to wonder what was happening in his heart and mind. Personally, there have been many seasons in which I have had to fight against the narratives my mind created from real events. While some events were real, my thoughts often exaggerated them, leading me to conclusions that felt true but could neither be proven nor tested. Left unchecked, those internal narratives can shape the way you view yourself, others, and even your ministry.

Before reading his statement, I found myself thinking about the kinds of struggles pastors often carry in their minds and hearts. They wrestle with seeing other ministries flourish while their own seems to struggle. They watch others receive invitations to preach at conferences and events while they remain unnoticed. They carry the weight of knowing that some people are watching closely for their mistakes, even though pastors, like every believer, are sinners who are “prone to wander,” as the hymn says. These are only a few of the many unseen burdens that can accumulate over time. Much of what takes place in a pastor’s heart remains hidden until it eventually surfaces, sometimes in the form of burnout, emotional exhaustion, the need for a sabbatical, or, as in some cases, the difficult decision to step away from ministry.

I have heard of Anthony Mitchell, pastor of 28:19 Church in Atlanta. Over the years, I have heard people speak highly of his preaching and ministry, describing his sermons as impactful, inspirational, and challenging. I do not know him personally, nor am I familiar enough with his ministry to affirm or critique it, so I cannot speak beyond what I have heard. What I can say is that, for many pastors, hearing about another ministry’s success can become an internal battle. Comparisons begin to surface. Questions arise about whether you are doing enough, whether your ministry is making an impact, how others perceive you, and why God seems to be blessing another work in ways that you long to see in your own. Those thoughts can easily feed struggles with self-evaluation, insecurity, and misplaced identity. Pastors are not immune to these temptations; we are men who still wrestle with our own hearts.

As I reflected on Eric Mason’s announcement, I wondered if he had experienced some of those same struggles. I do not know his heart, and I would not presume to speak for him, but I can imagine how difficult it must be to watch other churches flourish, see sermons receive thousands of views online, and observe others gain widespread recognition and influence. Those realities can become subtle temptations if our identity shifts from Christ’s approval to the approval and attention of people.

Over the years, I have had to develop certain mental reminders that help me push back against these temptations. One of the most important has been to stay in my lane and be content with the lane God has given me. By that I mean this: God has called me to be a local pastor who shepherds the people He has entrusted to my care. My primary calling is not to platforms, conferences, social media influence, or cultural recognition. Those things may come to some, but they are not the measure of faithfulness, nor are they what God has called me.

In fact, those opportunities can bring their own dangers. A pastor can become more focused on preparing conference messages than faithfully feeding his own congregation. He can spend so much time traveling that he becomes absent from the very people who need his shepherding, counsel, and presence. While there is certainly a place for broader ministry, it should never come at the expense of the flock God has entrusted to his care.

Remembering this has been a great safeguard for my own heart. When I keep before me that my calling is to faithfully shepherd the people God has given me, comparisons lose much of their power. The temptation to pursue platforms for their own sake begins to fade because my desire is not to build a name for myself but to faithfully fulfill the ministry the Lord has assigned to me.

I have a lot going on here at our local church. There are many challenges and struggles among our members, as well as my own ongoing need for Christ as I seek to faithfully serve Him. Because of that, it would not be wise for me to take on additional responsibilities simply for the sake of doing more. Over the years, I have been invited to preach at conferences and share God’s Word, and I am grateful for those opportunities. I am not opposed to them. However, if I begin to find my worth in those invitations, I will inevitably head down a dangerous path. That pursuit can lead to burnout and, ultimately, hinder my ability to faithfully serve in the ministry God has called me to.

My worth in ministry is not found in ministry but in Christ. Cliché? Maybe to some. Elementary? Perhaps. But foundational? Absolutely. And it is often that very foundation that is lacking in the lives of many pastors. Some hide behind pulpits and platforms, disguising themselves with powerful messages and book sales. Many pastors are fearful of being close to their congregants because they fear people will see their flaws, weaknesses, limitations, or lack of knowledge in certain theological areas. For many, distance feels like safety, but that is something I have never been comfortable with.

At the end of the day, when people see flaws in their pastor, as long as those flaws are not sinful or disqualifying, they should remember that pastors are human just like everyone else. Spend enough time around anyone, and you will see their flaws. Those are flaws that the Spirit of God is still working to transform.

My sermons will never be the best sermons. My preaching will never be the best preaching. My ministry will always have flaws. I am also subject to criticism because no one in ministry is above it. What matters most is not perfection but faithfulness and integrity. I often ask myself these questions: Am I living my life unto the Lord? Am I striving to live a holy life both privately and publicly? Am I seeking to make Christ known or myself known? Though imperfectly, I can honestly say that these are the things I strive for.

I believe that seeking to please God rather than man is one of the greatest safeguards for a pastor’s mental and spiritual well-being. We will always have critics. There will always be others who preach better than we do, have larger churches than we do, or are invited to conferences while we remain unnoticed, criticized, or overlooked. But if our desire is to live before an audience of One, then our minds and hearts can be guarded by the simple truth that Christ is enough and that Christ is all that matters.