The Weird Way Pastors Waste Energy (and Don’t Even Know It)
For months, my front door stuck every time I tried to shut it.
I’d wrestle with it, shoulder it closed, grumble, and move on.
Day after day.
It was a small thing.
I tolerated it.
Until one day, I called a repairman.
He fixed it in 30 minutes.
And when that door finally clicked shut with ease, something shifted.
I felt it in my soul.
Not just relief...
But an odd sense of elevation, like I’d upgraded my life in some invisible way.
What I realized was this:
That stupid stuck door had been stealing from me—stealing time, attention, and energy.
In fact, years ago, I noticed this pattern.
These little annoyances were multiplying like gremlins in the rain.
And I was just living with them.
But once I started fixing one... then another... I felt like I was being resurrected in slow motion.
Now, I go after tolerations like they owe me money.
What Is a "Toleration"?
It's more than you think it is.
A “toleration” is any small annoyance, friction point, or inconvenience that you put up with day after day... usually without realizing how much it's costing you.
- The squeaky office chair
- The broken cabinet hinge
- The 17 tabs open on your outdated laptop
- The beat-up suitcase you’ve duct-taped three times like it’s part of a prison break plan
They’re things we adapt to.
They seem too small to matter.
But they pile up like emotional sandbags.
And they leak energy.
Quietly, constantly, and without apology.
Why This Matters for Pastors
Pastors already live under pressure.
Spiritual, emotional, and mental.
You’re pouring out constantly.
Family.
Flock.
Your calling.
You don’t need anything extra draining you.
Like that cracked phone charger that only works when it’s bent at a 47-degree angle and propped against a coffee mug.
But that’s exactly what tolerations do.
Each time you wrestle that broken door handle or jam your printer for the third time this week, you make a small subconscious withdrawal from your energy reserves.
Sometimes you feel it. But not always.
But your body does.
Your brain does.
And over time, it adds up.
This is part of the reason pastors feel low-grade frustration, fog, and fatigue—not because of big sins or moral failures—but because of thousands of unaddressed tolerations slowly dragging them down.
Your car doesn’t need a demon cast out.
It needs a new battery and someone to clean the Chick-fil-A sauce off the console.
The Friction Tax
Here’s what no one tells you:
Every toleration is like a little tax on your focus and effectiveness.
And pastors, especially, can’t afford to pay that tax.
You need every ounce of clarity and strength to preach, lead, love, and live well.
You’re not lazy.
You’re just overdrawn.
And part of the fix might be simpler than you think.
The Freedom in Fixing
When you fix a toleration—when you throw out that broken-down suitcase, finally buy a new pair of sneakers, or clean out that chaotic junk drawer—you feel it.
It’s not just that one thing got easier.
It’s that your soul breathes.
There’s a sense of dignity in fixing what’s broken.
There’s a silent voice in your head that says, “This matters. I matter.”
And that’s where it gets spiritual.
Because when you reclaim these small parts of your life, you create margin.
You create peace.
You create space for God to speak again.
(Also, you stop yelling at a drawer like it owes you an apology.)
A Challenge for You
Make a list. Right now.
List 10 things you’ve been tolerating.
Be honest.
They might seem silly.
Good.
That’s a sign they’ve been robbing you quietly.
And then commit: fix one toleration per day for the next 10 days.
Clean it. Replace it. Repair it. Throw it out.
Burn it in a ceremonial backyard revival, if needed. (Check local fire ordinances.)
Watch what happens to your focus.
Your mood.
Your spirit.
You might even feel saved all over again.
Closing Thought
The enemy doesn’t always attack with scandal.
Sometimes, he just clutters your life with tiny, persistent drains until you’re too tired to dream again.
Don’t let him.
Fix the door. Buy the shoes. Replace the suitcase.
Reclaim the energy you didn’t even know you were losing.
And then use it to run your race with joy.
More Resources To Help You Optimize
🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health
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