Help... I'm gonna burn out!

Lately, there have been lots and lots of activities involving the TnTs and some of us are starting to feel the stress, strain and exhaustion... It's not that we're not faithful... it's just that we are starting to contemplate avoiding events and letting others do the job... These are the early symptoms of burn out... Burn out can be defined as simply losing the ability to participate effectively or contribute significantly due to loss of strength and passion.

They say, when you stop relying on God's strength... or when you're doing things your own way not God's ways... burn out happens... true... but it could also boil down to our shifting priorities, job stress and lack of personal resource management.

I got this "burn out" cycle diagram from somewhere... where are you right now?

Here's a nice Q&A I found on another website...




What exactly is this burnout epidemic?

Our world today moves faster than ever. With technology allowing - and almost encouraging us to be omnipresent, we find it hard to unplug. Add passion for ministry into the mix and it’s a recipe for disaster if we don’t learn to prayerfully and carefully seek God’s plan for all areas of our health - spiritual, emotional, physical, mental and relational.

Are there any conditions within the ministry practice or area that dispose a leader to this burnout?

Each environment is unique, and each person is unique. The one common predisposition those of us who are believers have is the fact that Satan wants to destroy us and he will use anything, even the convenience of today’s world, to throw us off track.

What sort of things can a leader do to assure that burnout doesn’t occur?

First and foremost, we have to continually die to ourselves. When we are working in our power, rather than the power of the Holy Spirit, we are being entirely ineffective for the Kingdom. There are also other practical things many of us overlook, such as getting enough sleep, investing in relationships, and even putting down the cheeseburger and fries…

What sort of things can a church or ministry organisation do to make sure there team doesn’t burnout?

Communicate openly and honestly. Identify a team member’s expectations and strengths. Keep communicating. Set boundaries within the team. Pray together.

For someone who has experienced moral failure or burnout, what is required to experience healing and restoration?

God’s grace is unending, and sometimes when you hit rock bottom, that’s all you may have to hold on to. Sometimes your friends, maybe even your family, will slip away. Finding people who can help you walk through this is essential. Unfortunately, too many people get kicked to the curb when they go through something like burning out or a moral failure.

There is this myth that once you become a Christian you won’t get depressed, anxious or bothered by issues; how do you respond to this?

Read almost any book in the Bible and you’ll see there are many people, especially those in very intimate relationships with God, who suffered in a variety of ways. It’s in those dark times that we recognize even the smallest glimmer of light even more.


And finally, what is your definition of a healthy ministry?

Prayer driven and spirit led.



Hmmm.... ok... at a personal level... this is my personal say on the matter:


WHAT I DO WHEN I FEEL I'M APPROACHING BURN OUT

1. It's ok to slow down and reflect on what's going on...


2. Pray and ask God what it is you're doing wrong, how come you're not experiencing the abundance but the burn out...


3. Ask God for wisdom or for more workers in the harvest...


4. In the meantime, persevere drawing strength from God...


5. Know that your work in the Lord is not done in vain...


6. Remember, if God wills you to do something, He'll provide the resources...


7. Last but not least, look at the examples of others in the Bible and how they persevered.

Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

Romans 12:9-16 The Message.