There are three simple rules I have learned to live by to avoid “burnout.” In Christian circles, someone is always experiencing what they call “burnout.” Many leave the ministry and seek other avenues that they feel will be less physically and mentally stressful. I want to share with you how I handle the disappointments, physical exhaustion, and mental stress of ministry.
You don’t have to be a pastor’s wife or paid ministry staff member to experience the above. I believe that we are all called to full-time ministry. We are all to be living out our Christian life, doing all we can to influence a world that does not know Jesus. I have been married for fifty years, and we have done almost everything there is to do in ministry except preach. (My husband has taught many times from the pulpit but will not call it preaching) We have moved to several states in that time due to my husband’s transfers with his job. However, God moved us to serve, and He used Alcoa to pay the bills. Think about that one! Thirty-two years of that were in different stages of mission work. From the start-up phase to the “self-supporting,” with very little money to operate. Each time there have been tremendous opportunities to see lives changed. Teaching children, bus ministry, seventeen years of youth ministry, music ministry, ladies ministry, visitation, counseling, discipling, deacon’s wife, not to mention the physical part of building a church, and taking care of the physical part of a church. Most of the time, these all happen at the same time! I state all of that to validate that I know what I’m talking about when I share how to survive the ups and downs of ministry.
- Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” If God commands or expects us to do something, he will equip us to do it. He will furnish the power and the means. Through his word, we find instruction. Through prayer, we petition, and we gain understanding. Through obedience, He supplies our needs.
- I Corinthians 10:31 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” In simple terms, all I do should reflect Christ. The word Christian means “little Christ“. Therefore, I need to think before I act or speak. I need to understand that what people think about me reflects on my God and what others think about him. Just like our children are a reflection of us. I am not living my life for me but to bring glory to him.
- Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” All I do, I do for the Lord. I not only do it for him, but I do it with all my heart. It’s not about me! It’s about Him! If you truly get the picture of doing it totally for the Lord, you understand that others may get the benefit, but ultimately, you are doing it for God. I may get tired, even physically exhausted, but I will not burn out. This attitude puts me in a mental state that reminds me I can never do too much for my Lord.
I should never feel that I have done enough. I should never feel like I’m pulling more than my weight while others do nothing. I should never feel like no one appreciates my labor. Do you see the fallacy in all these statements? They all start with the word I!
When we get a clear picture of God and what he did when he sent his perfect Son to die for our sins, we will have no problem working until we are about to drop. We will get physically tired, but we will still want to do more.
When you get overly tired, take a rest. Lay some other things aside and refocus. Don’t stop serving. Keep the main thing, the main thing. We only have one life to give him. We should show him through our works how much we love him.
Take time to look outward each day instead of inward. There are always those who need encouragement to push forward. Believe it or not, encouraging others will help you be encouraged. Don’t cheat yourself by serving without spending time in prayer and study. That would be like running a race without eating or drinking, the longer you go without fuel the weaker you become. The opposite is also true: the more fuel you have, the further you can go. Get alone with God each day, fuel up, and then go serve!
