I’d like to see a lot of discussion on the POSTURE of burn – meaning, an attitude of dependence on God, seeking His will for our life & ministry. This is more than central; it’s more than a spiritual facet of our life (like our financial, relational, physical, etc.). It’s the very atmosphere within which we are able to be effective and remain strong in our service to others.

Burnout is usually running out of emotional effort. I think we have all been on a project or exercise that involved a lot of physical work – like helping a good friend move. At the end, we were tired – but it was a “good tired”.

We ran out of physical strength, but we did not run out of emotional effort.

One of my dreams for when we are empty-nesters is to have a retreat center for pastors and missionaries and their families to get away to sleep, play, relax, re-connect with each other and God (and have some counseling or coaching if needed or wanted).
I’d like to do it on a beach in Hawaii, my wife is thinking more bed-and-breakfast out in the woods somewhere. Either way I’d love to go around asking churches to send their pastor on vacation.

So, recovering mad church disease peeps look me up in about 15-20 years, hopefully we can chill on the beach someday.

I think getting to the root of the problem, which for most would be, finding one’s identity/meaning/purpose in what one does, instead of who we are and who’s we are. The person who said something about learning we are human beings, not human doings was on the money.

Uncovering all the lies that cause people to strive and get on the treadmill to burnout.

All the practical advice and naps are great, but if folks don’t learn why they are prone to burnout, then it becomes a vicious cycle.

My prayer is for everyone who is struggling with this issue to find out how much the Father loves them, no matter what they do or don’t do. We don’t have to perform to make Him love us or be pleased us. IN fact, if we are working for the wrong reason, then whatever is not of faith is sin. God is not afraid of us not “working for Him”. He rested from His works, so we can too.

May we all enter into the Sabbath rest that Jesus bought for us on the cross. May we call cease from our own works and rest in what He did for us.

If you are burnt out and haven’t already read about the Room of Grace vs the Room of Good Intentions from TrueFaced – it is awesome.