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HOW TO
AVOID BURNOUT
It seems that the word "burnout" has become a far more
common word over the last couple of decades. Perhaps it is because we are all
living in a pressure cooker kind of world that requires or demands so much
more of our time and effort and results in so many more stress related
problems. Stress is both an emotional as well as physical condition that
renders its victim with a diminished ability to function productively or to be
able to cope with most situations that seem to arise. Most of us have had this
as a personal experience or we have known someone that has gone through such a
trying time.
One might ask the question, "Does the Bible have anything
to say about dealing with the stresses of the day?" The answer is "yes" and
from God's Word we can draw a number of conclusions or principles that will
help each of us avoid facing the terrible condition that we call "burnout".
Notice and seriously consider these suggestions.
1. Let HIM do the work. One of the great joys of being a
child of God is the knowledge of both His presence as well as His care and
concern. Our walk can often be illustrated with the exercycle that many use
regularly to help keep muscles toned and usable. Most would agree that this
devise is used for a prescribed length of time on a regular basis and the
longer you are able to pedal, the stronger you would seem to be. Suppose that
when you no longer could pedal any further that you could place the exercycle
on an "automatic" mode and it would turn all by itself, moving your legs up
and down in rhythm? The fact is that if such an experience were possible, you
would simply be going along for the ride. In the Christian life, times come
upon us when we just feel like we can't pedal even one more time--we just
can't go on any further in our own strength. It is at those times that we need
to get on the spiritual exercycle and "let Him do the work". At this point, I
would ask you to open your Bible and read Matthew 11:28-30 because it will
better explain just what I have suggested to you. It says, "Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke
upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light".
2. Learn to rest in the work and not from the work. The
key here is our fellowship with Christ. We will learn to better cope with
whatever comes our way when we learn to "Take my yoke upon you". The
point is that we keep so close to Him that when we get weary in the work that
He will be able to carry us along because we are yoked together with Him.
You see, this suggests that we haven't turned from the task or from the
work, but remaining yoked with Christ enables us to get rest in the
work.
3. Spend time with Him! I am sure that most have felt at
one time or another that they just had to get away and had to have a vacation
of sorts because the stresses of life were getting almost too much to endure.
The stresses of life, if left unattended, can bring us to the point where we
are of little value to anyone or anything. Jesus taught His disciples to "come
apart and rest awhile." I think that's why Christ taught His disciples
in Matthew 11 to "learn of Him". Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that
wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings
as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not
faint." The stresses will never be gone, but the opportunity to dwell
closer to Christ is always available to us, in fact, it is His desire for us.
When we become accustomed to "spending time with Him" we are going to
discover that we are far better equipped to handle the dreaded stresses of
life.
Burnout is a very real possibility but so are these
applications that will enable each of us to live from day to day without
losing our productivity and we can stay productive for His honor and glory!
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