Heavy & Large Stones to Carry? Share the Load

Let Others Carry the Stones: A Word for Rural Pastors

When Joshua led the people of Israel into the Promised Land, it wasn’t just a story of crossing a river. It was a story of shared weight. The waters of the Jordan stood still as the ark of the covenant rested in the middle, and the people walked across on dry ground. But before the priests stepped out of the river, Joshua gave a striking command:

“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you.”

— Joshua 4:4–5 (NIV)

Notice what Joshua didn’t do: he didn’t carry one of the stones himself. The leader of the whole nation delegated the lifting. Twelve men, one from each tribe, bore the weight on their shoulders. And together they built a monument that would stand for generations.

The Stones Were Heavy

Scripture says they carried them “on their shoulder.” These weren’t pocket-sized rocks you could toss into a backpack. These were boulders—80, 90, maybe 100 pounds each. Heavy enough that one person couldn’t manage them all.

Why does that matter? Because it tells us something about leadership. The memorial stones were supposed to last, to mean something, to speak to future generations. And the weight of building something lasting was too much for one person to carry.

A Word for Pastors of Small Rural Churches

If you are a pastor of a small church in rural America, you may know what it feels like to carry stones all by yourself. Preaching, teaching, visiting the sick, counseling the broken, planning the budget, leading worship, unclogging the toilets, repairing the roof—the stones stack up.

And here’s the reality: you are not alone in that exhaustion.

In 2024, 91% of pastors reported experiencing some form of burnout (Soul Shepherding).

A Barna study in 2023 found that 33% of pastors had seriously considered quitting full-time ministry.

These are sobering numbers, and they reflect what many rural pastors feel every week. But the lesson from Joshua is clear: the leader does not have to carry every stone.

It is not a failure to invite others to lift with you. In fact, it honors both God and your people when you do. Just as Joshua entrusted one man from each tribe, you are invited to trust the body of Christ to share the load.

Shared Burdens Build Strong Communities

Joshua’s monument wasn’t just twelve random rocks piled together. It was a testimony: “These stones remind us that God stopped the Jordan so His people could cross.”

When the congregation shares in carrying the stones, they’re not just helping you with tasks—they are building the testimony with you. They’re owning the story. And that changes everything.

When people carry weight, they also carry memory. They tell their children, “I lifted that stone. I was part of building this altar. I saw God make a way.”

Why Leaders Resist Delegation

Why do so many pastors resist letting others carry stones? Sometimes it’s fear: What if they don’t do it right? Sometimes it’s pride: I can do it faster myself. Sometimes it’s identity: If I’m not the one carrying, will people still see me as the leader?

But here’s the truth: Joshua’s leadership was not diminished because he didn’t carry a stone. In fact, his leadership was multiplied. He mobilized others to do the heavy lifting, and the result was a monument that stood through generations.

An Invitation to Rest and Freedom

Pastors in rural churches often live at a relentless pace. Burnout lurks at the edges, family life suffers, and joy gets buried under constant responsibility. But when you begin to release some of the stones—when you let trusted people lift alongside you—you step into a healthier rhythm of leadership.

Remember this: Joshua walked into the Promised Land with a free set of shoulders. He wasn’t bowed under the stones. He was free to lead, free to see the big picture, free to guide the people forward.

So here’s the invitation:

Identify the stones that only you can carry (preaching, vision, shepherding).

Identify the stones that others can carry (maintenance, administration, shared ministry).

Begin inviting others, one by one, to lift with you.

Building Together

The goal isn’t just to lighten your load. The goal is to build something together—an altar, a monument, a testimony—that will outlast you.

When your rural congregation lifts stones with you, they are not just doing tasks. They are joining you in shaping the story of God’s faithfulness. They are building an altar that will stand in your community for years to come.

So let others carry the stones. Not because you are weak, but because the work is too glorious to do alone.

A Final Word

If you’re tired of carrying every stone alone, hear this: God has placed people in your congregation to shoulder weight with you. The invitation is not to do less ministry, but to invite more people into the story.

Joshua didn’t carry a stone—and neither do you have to.

📍 Coaching the Red Line is based in Spokane, serving pastors of small rural churches across the Pacific Northwest and beyond via Zoom. If you’d like a safe, confidential space to explore what stones you may need to lay down or invite others to carry, I’d love to talk.

Phone: 509-999-3305

Website: Coaching the Red Line

YouTube: @alecgonzales-qw8xq

👉 Coaching the Red Line integrates both life coaching and spiritual direction. Coaching focuses on outcomes; spiritual direction focuses on your relationship with God. Both are confidential, supportive spaces for pastors and leaders in rural churches, small towns, and beyond.