Sabbatical Insights from a Pastor’s Wife

About nine months ago, my husband brought up something we’d never seriously discussed before: maybe it was time for him to take a sabbatical.

Coming from him, this was unexpected. Zach has always said things like, “I can’t imagine ever retiring,” or “Even if I did, I’d still be preaching somewhere.” But something had shifted. He was feeling a different kind of tired—more soul-weary than physically drained. It wasn’t burnout, but it was close enough to warrant a reset. And with his 30th year of ministry approaching, it seemed like the right moment to pause and mark the milestone.

Our church family at First Baptist Fernandina Beach—leaders, staff, and congregation—were 100% supportive. That in itself was a gift. In the twenty-five years we’ve been married, Zach has never gone four weeks in a row without preaching. I’ve heard it said that a pastor’s weekly routine is like a woman who finds out she’s pregnant on Monday, delivers the baby on Sunday, and then discovers she’s pregnant again by the next Monday. On repeat. Our people understood that, and they sent us off to rest with lots of love and encouragement!

Now that we’re returning—rested, grateful, and more aligned than ever—here are just a few reasons I believe our church will be glad they gave us this gift:

This month, we were able to simply be still before God, without preparing others’ spiritual food. Jesus often pulled away from the crowds to quiet places to pray, and He returned with clarity and renewed strength. I see the same in Zach, and in myself, though my service looks different than teaching/preaching. The quiet break has made us eager to return to ministry life with fresh vision and peace.

Having a break from the pressures of responsibilities and expectations of ministry has allowed us to be brought back to the “why” behind God’s beautiful plan, the church. We have also had the chance to dream— to talk about what the next season might look like and what matters most. The sabbatical gave us the clarity to align our priorities as individuals and as a couple. We are coming back with clearer minds and fuller hearts, sure to benefit those we serve Christ with!

We decided early on that this sabbatical needed to be more than just a “staycation.” So, we packed our bags and headed to Roatán, Honduras—a place that was warm, sunny, and just adventurous enough to shake up our routine. We rented a house for the month, allowing our kids to come and go as their schedules allowed.

We swam and snorkeled together, took underwater photos, fished, ziplined through the jungle, met monkeys and sloths, painted with watercolors, watched movies, and even visited some dear friends in mainland Honduras. We ate amazing meals overlooking the water and had long, unhurried conversations. We made sweet memories together!

If your church or ministry is considering it—please say yes. Speaking as a wife, I treasured the chance to reconnect with my husband without the looming pressure of “Sunday’s coming.” And as a church member, I believe our entire congregation will benefit from a pastor who returns spiritually refreshed, emotionally grounded, and relationally strong.

We’re coming home grateful for such a gracious and generous church family. And we are coming home ready to get back at it!