Burnout

We all experience stress - too much to do in too little time and usually without the proper resources. BURNOUT occurs when stress accumulates in us over time. Burnout affects our motivation and desire to keep striving towards the goals and ideals we once held onto so closely. Many times burnout leads to depression and a sense of hopelessness and helplessness.

Christian leader Mike Foster says "My biggest indicator of burnout is how I treat people...What's most unfortunate, and probably not a unique situation, is that I take out my stress on the people I love the most...my wife and kids..."

Many times we burnout because we are on the road to success. We are pursuing our dreams so fast and furiously that we don't see the "self-destruction" warning light blinking crazily on our dashboard. Pastor Wayne Cordeiro said of his burnout experience "Unknowingly, the road to success and the road to a nervous breakdown became the same road."

Burnout is caused by mismanaging our lives. We over commit to ourselves or others; we develop wrong priorities, or have no priorities at all; we allow ourselves to be pulled in 10 directions by the demands of others or our own internal demands.

One way to put the brakes on us spiraling into burnout is to manage our lives better. Start with making sure you are seeking God every morning. Do what Mary did.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:38-42

Spending time with Jesus every morning goes along way in reducing stress, getting our priorities straight, and reducing our burdens by casting our worries on him.

Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.

Psalms 55:22

Healthy eating and a good exercise program also help reduce stress levels and prevent burnout. But start with the one thing Jesus said was needed - to sit at His feet and hear from him.

For more good help on overcoming burnout read "Mad Church Disease" by Anne Jackson.
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