Burnout
Burnout is described as fatigue, frustration, or loss of interest in certain activities and sometimes life in general. It can cause extreme stress, depression, and social withdrawal. Burnout is not exclusive to our jobs. Maybe it's household responsibilities, or classwork, we can even feel burnout in social obligations. Not to mention spiritual burnout can happen and it’s part of our walk with Christ.
The most common complaint among my peers is the frustrations we have with work whether it be a job or spiritual work. It’s part of being human; generosity and hard work is part of what gives us purpose. As followers of God we are often called to sacrifice sometimes more than we have. However God doesn't call us to work so hard that we lose desire to do anything. Nowhere does the bible equate our worth or identity to how much we work. “And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” Mark 6:31. To me it’s obvious that we’re called to rest and to lean on the Lord for support, that’s a big part of our relationship with God. We need to allow God the chance to fill us with love and give us the rest we need in order to pour into others. If we deny that rest and love he wants to give us, we lose sleep, often taking on more things than we can handle by neglecting our own needs we’re failing to see the correct plan God has set out for us.”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28-30.
Relying on God can look different for everyone. For some it might mean being more intentional with self care. Exercise, sleeping regularly, making time for a book, spending time with friends, or giving yourself the chance to be alone. “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy spirit within you, you are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” Corinthians 6:19-20. It’s important to enjoy the things that God gave us with the purpose of enriching and teaching us. Others might need to get rid of things that have been deemed more important than God. For some it’s simply learning to say no in order to avoid any kind of burnout. When we rely on God more, we’re trusting him to make a straight path for us without our opinion on what we think is best. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
We heal from burnout by accepting God’s rest, and we can avoid burnout by keeping in the know with God. That means talking to him about our schedules and asking him to lead . We can do what he calls us to do but only within his boundaries. We should accept his love for it’s because of his love that he gave his only son, Jesus Christ. We should accept help from others because God calls us to bear one another's burdens in the name of community. We should accept his rest because it’s such a wonderful gift given to us by a gracious and caring savior.