Confession: I’ve approached the cliff of burnout many times.
A pastor today juggles many things, from family to emergencies to meetings to disgruntled congregants, all while maintaining a productive devotional life and writing sermons.
That’s me. What’s on your list? Is there a way to avoid burnout? Let me share three passages where I’ve found help. I memorized these verses years ago and review them often.
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV).
Give God permission to search your heart.
Then ask Him to test your actions revealing why they create anxious thoughts. God will tell you through a soft voice of conviction or an ever-increasing loud voice of correction about the offensive ways in your life.
Applying this verse many times, I’ve learned it’s much better to listen to the soft voice as the louder voice of correction is ultimately more painful.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you (Romans 12:3, NIV).
Let’s not walk outside of our grace.
What faith has God given us? Learning to walk in our portion of faith isn’t status quo as it leads us to increasing growth. We develop discernment by not thinking more highly of ourselves than we should, which allows healthy and fruitful steps of faith.
Stop: Reread the above paragraph.
Grace and faith must be balanced to overcome anxiety.
Burnout comes from either inaction or over-action. Obviously, some do too much, but others pause too much and find life flooding them with decisions and actions that should have been made yesterday.
Stop: I’ve just written something amazing (perhaps I’m walking outside of my grace) but please go back and read the proceeding paragraphs.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work (1 Corinthians 12:4-6, NIV).
To overcome burnout, know that God is in charge.
In chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians, Paul instructs about spiritual gifts and serving others with those gifts. But in the beginning of his teaching in 1 Corinthians 12:4-5, the Apostle says the Spirit gives gifts, the Lord gives us our service or ministry, and God brings the effect.
God is in charge of giving our gifts, opening doors for ministry, and bringing impact. If we stop using gifts we don’t have, forcing open doors for opportunities, and getting upset when God doesn’t bless our ministry according to our expectations…
…we will avoid burnout.
That’s it—three passages that have helped me avoid burnout. I never have anxiety anymore. Oops! I confess that I just walked outside of my faith.