Burnout Isn't the End of Your Story!ናሙና

We all do the same thing each night - we charge our phones!

Sometimes, I wonder if we expect ourselves to renew ourselves with the ease and speed of our smartphones. Many of us live as if we can recharge and re-engage at a speed our bodies and souls cannot sustain. This kind of thinking leads to one destination – burnout.

I never thought burnout would happen to me, and perhaps you didn't know it would happen to you, either.

Six years after I received a warning about burnout while in seminary, I hit a wall while pastoring. I hadn't taken care of myself physically, neglecting healthy eating habits and exercise. Spiritually, I was prepping my public acts of spirituality (writing, teaching, leading a ministry) while ignoring my private spirituality (silence, solitude, meditation, prayer). Emotionally, I had to fight to maintain hope amidst disillusionment with my church.

One Thursday evening, I broke down in a planning meeting with some volunteers. As we struggled to navigate different opinions on the next step our ministry should take, the team looked to me to solve the disagreement and lead us forward. But when my opportunity to lead came, I had zero clarity about vision or passion to share.

I chose to be vulnerable with my team. Through tears, I confessed, "I don't know what to do. I have nothing left to share and no new vision to share with you. I don't know how to solve this. I'm sorry, but I'm empty."

Amazingly, my friends responded with love, not judgment. I found acceptance instead of rejection. They circled me and laid hands on me. Several friends prayed for my body and soul, permitting me to be in a dark and difficult place. I will always remember that evening or the gift they gave me.

I knew things needed to change. I couldn't keep going down this path. Despite my good intentions, I was becoming another statistic - one more pastor who burned out and left the ministry.

I'll share more of my story later in this plan, but (spoiler alert) I'm still a pastor, and burnout wasn't the end of my story. That's the message I want to share today: Burnout isn't the end of your story. If you're burned out or headed that way, I'm glad you started this plan. I am excited to share the wisdom from the Bible and friends who guided me back to a place of healing and renewal.

Burnout doesn't have to be the end of your story as long as you admit that you are somewhere you never planned to be. Your current pace and your present wounds need your attention. If you're burned out, you need to name it. If you're headed toward burnout, you must admit you're on the wrong path. Many people have used the phrase "what cannot be named cannot be healed," and they are correct.

Jesus once asked His followers, "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" According to Jesus, the most important thing about you is your soul, and nothing you can gain in this world is worth the loss of your soul. Later, Jesus invited His followers to allow Him to show them a better way: "Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

This reading plan offers practical steps for following Jesus' teaching so that burnout doesn't become the end of your story.

I want to encourage you to express your feelings out loud. Saying, "I'm burned out," or "I'm scared that I'm headed towards burnout," might be a big step for you.

I'm proud of you for starting this plan and taking steps toward healing and hope. Tomorrow, we'll examine how we can begin to exchange the mindset that led us into burnout for the way that Jesus offers us to provide rest for our bodies and souls.