Pastors & the Post-Easter Blues
The post-Easter blues can be very real for pastors.
It’s Monday morning and all the preparation and planning for an incredible Sunday of worship on Easter is over. For some pastors, especially those who are fairly new to the pastorate, wondering why they feel as they do on Monday morning after Easter can be confusing.
We have become accustomed in our culture, whether the Christian subculture or just the western world, to see Mondays as challenging. It’s the beginning of the work week following a weekend of family time, fun, and for some, relaxation. It’s back to the old grind, as they say.
Songs resonate on our mental playlist about the weekend. From Loverboy’s “Working for the Weekend,” George Jones reminding us it’s “Finally Friday” and Bruno and Mark reminding listeners that it’s “Saturday night and we in the spot” (and now you’re singing “Uptown Funk”) we have a growing list of songs celebrating the weekend and lamenting the 9 to 5 (what a way to make a living!)
But why on the Monday after Easter are pastors so susceptible to the blues? Maybe even more than normal?
Just for clarification, I’m not writing this so that people will feel sorry for their pastors. And, on this Monday I am personally feeling good. However, I think the wisdom is in recognizing why, as pastors, so many feel the emotional dip post-Easter. I don’t believe it is a sin. I just believe it’s what many face.
I read a post earlier in the week seeking to prepare pastors for these commonly held feelings and connecting it to the post-dopamine hit that Easter brings.
Regardless how many services a church has on Easter weekend (and believe me, some pastors love to remind people how many times they preached in a given weekend looking for sympathy perhaps?) the reality is that the excitement in planning and preparing for what could be the best attended weekend of the year can often increase the amount of dopamine in a person.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter made in an individual’s brain. It acts as a chemical messenger and has been said to play a role as a “reward center” for the body.[1] That dopamine high is what many pastors feel on Easter Sunday morning (in addition to a filling of the Holy Spirit) and when the day is done, the family lunch is over, and the obligatory Sunday afternoon nap is complete, the high often ends.
And that is what many deal with on Monday morning.
To quote a pastor friend of mine from many years back, “Never resign on a Monday.”
There are also other things that fuel the Monday post-Easter blues. Here are some taken from some articles I’ve read and some personal experiences:
SUPER BUSY: Despite the “We preach the resurrection every Sunday, so Easter is no different” that many pastors state, the fact is that Easter is different. It is a bigger day and more people will attend than on other Sundays (most of the time.)[2]
BEST SERMON EVER: The potential crowd often pushes pastors to seek to provide a more interactive, creative, or unique version of themselves on Sunday morning. This is fueled by the celebrity-pastor culture that permeates many of our western Christian areas and moves even well-intentioned, God-loving, Spirit-filled pastors to try to be more of something they are not.
COMPARISON: Yeah, we’re all on the same team. I know, but the sinful reality is that churches tend to compete and sadly, many pastors find themselves doing the same. Thus, when the church down the street posts how “amazing and incredible their service was” with accompanying photos and videos, some pastors inevitably feel like they’re still on the junior varsity while the crowd attends the varsity event elsewhere.
UNMET EXPECTATIONS: What if the attendance is not higher than normal? What if the offering is weak? What if you throw a party and no one attends? Sometimes the money spent on banners, road signs, the crazy Easter egg drop from the helicopter, or whatever else is done to draw a crowd does not work. This may not be a bad thing, but that’s a focus for another article.
EASTER PHOTO OP: This year more than ever, it seems that churches had decorative backdrops declaring “He Is Risen” or “Easter at the __________ Church.” I don’t think any of those are bad, sinful, or wrong, but pastors who spend any time online will do some comparisons. And, when they see those who may still be on the membership rolls of their church posing in front of another church’s Easter prop, that can suck the wind out of them. By the way, if your church has a backdrop with the word EASTER printed on it, tell the tall dad who is standing in front of the letter S to move over a bit. I saw one friend who was posing with his family in front of a very nice EATER banner and now that is all I can see when I see that banner.
SEVERE SELF-ANALYSIS: In many cases the pastor’s weekly self-analysis of his sermon is more critical on Easter. Often the self-analysis extends to the music, greeters, parking issues, children and preschool ministries, etc.
WHAT COULD BE: The attendance on Easter Sunday may be significantly higher than on any other Sunday. That is wonderful, but also a stark reminder to the man preaching of what could be but isn’t. This is likely a holdover from the church growth movement’s emphasis on numbers and pragmaticism over exposition and discipleship. Crowds bring much energy, and it is easy to be drawn to such. Whether right or wrong, the reality that many strangers (or people the pastor has not seen for months) were in the room and seemingly walked out after the service to go back into hiding can leave the pastor disheartened.
On this Monday as pastors are finishing up staff meetings, working on the next sermon, or just thinking through the minutia of ministry, be encouraged and understand you are not alone in what you may be experiencing.
The valley after the dopamine high is very real, but we serve a God who meets us on the mountain and walks with us in the valley.
Pray that the work and effort you put in for this past Easter was pleasing to the Lord and the fruit of your labor will reveal great results. Trust God with the details and focus his calling and what he has for you.
It’s easy to say “pick your head up and move on” but it is the right thing.
Maybe look to the story of the Old Testament prophet Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Following his victory (a spiritual and emotional high no doubt) over the prophets of Baal, he is found hiding in a cave, exhausted, and depressed.
There is a heightened vulnerability after a spiritual high.[3] Just ask any youth pastor which day during camp they experience the most troubles with students. It’s often following the big, spiritually moving worship service.
The valley after a mountaintop can seem devastating. But, in many cases, simply getting something healthy to eat, sleeping, and spending some time with friends, as well as time in the Word and praying is the antidote to this.
Oh, and pastor, you’re good. This is not another article espousing how difficult it is to be a pastor. No one is reading that anymore, especially church members. You have been called and gifted and God has equipped you. So, get something to eat. Take a nap. And get back to work. We have a wonderful Savior and it may be Monday (again) but Sunday is coming again.
God has you where he wants you for his glory…and your good.
Happy week after Easter.
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[1] “Dopamine: What It Is, Function & Symptoms.” Cleveland Clinic, 19 Mar. 2025, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22581-dopamine.
[2] Lawless, Chuck. “11 Reasons Pastors Struggle on Easter.” ChuckLawless.Com, 17 Mar. 2016, chucklawless.com/2015/04/11-reasons-pastors-struggle-easter/.
[3] DeSelm, Dave. “Why Pastors Struggle after a Big Sunday.” Dave DeSelm Ministries, Dave DeSelm Ministries, 4 Apr. 2024, www.davedeselmministries.org/blog/halt-after-easter.
