Are you really burnt out… or are you just deeply discouraged?

In this episode of The Shaping Student Ministry Podcast, John and Ian tackle the confusion between burnout and discouragement — and why understanding the difference could keep you from walking away from something God has actually called you to do.

🔍 In this episode, we cover:

• The signs and symptoms of discouragement vs. burnout

• Why burnout has become a “badge of honor” in ministry culture

• What Barna says about the crisis in pastoral health

• How isolation fuels helplessness (learned helplessness theory)

• The emotional, spiritual, and relational differences between the two

• Why community is the cure

• What Marshawn Lynch and septic tanks have to do with your ministry mindset

🤯 💬 “If you mislabel discouragement as burnout, you might quit something you were called to endure. But if you mislabel burnout as discouragement, you’ll keep grinding until you collapse.”

🎧 Want Part 2 of the conversation?

In the subscriber-only bonus episode, we walk through:

✅ Practical rhythms to recover from burnout

✅ How to know when it’s time to take a break

✅ Why a sabbatical might not fix what you’re feeling

✅ How to lead yourself well so you can keep leading others

✅ The burnout quiz to help assess where you stand

👇 Join the community for bonus episodes, cohorts, and exclusive tools: shapingstudentministry.com/community