When Life Steals Your Soul

Matthew 11:28-30

Life has a way of using us up. It takes a lot of energy to handle what is thrown at us on a daily basis.  When we are wrung out emotionally, physically and spiritually but still must continue, life becomes a real burden.  It happens in work, marriage, child-rearing, caregiving, and even in ministry.  How do we handle burnout in life?

I. Definition of Burnout

A truth in life is that few things in life end up as expected. 

Burnout is coming to the end of your self.

Stressed Out is not the same as Burned Out

·  Stress, by and large, involves too much.

·  Burnout, on the other hand, is about not enough.  

II. Symptoms of Burnout

·  Physical symptoms: fatigue, frequent illness, sleep problems

·  Emotional symptoms: disillusionment, helplessness; anger, depression, isolation

·  Behavioral symptoms: detachment, avoidance of responsibilities, harshness, loss of satisfaction

III. Causes of Burnout

·  Trying to do God’s work in man’s power.

·  Focusing on tasks instead of purpose.  Ecclesiastes 3:9-11

o Tasks without purpose produce weariness.

o Tasks without purpose produce boredom.

o Tasks without purpose produce emptiness.

The tasks of life find purpose and value in eternity. Ecclesiastes 3:12-14

IV. Scriptural Pictures of Burnout

A. Elijah was physically worn out - I Kings 19:1-3

B. Moses was emotionally wrung out - Numbers 11:4-6,14-15

C. Jonah was spiritually wiped out - Jonah 4:1-3

V. Beating Burnout

Burnout can be the blessing of God to bring you to greater truth and reality in life.

A. Elijah was physically refreshed - I Kings 19:5-6

B. Moses was emotionally renewed - Numbers 11:16-17

C. Jonah was spiritually revived - Jonah 4:1-3

Worry

Submitted by Josh Arrington

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:33-34

Have you ever found yourself worried about the future because there were so many unknowns that it became overwhelming?  When our family moved from Texas to Vancouver over 7 years ago there were plenty of unknowns. We found ourselves worrying about things we had absolutely no control over.  How would we be accepted in a new culture?  How would our children adjust to being away from all our family and support? Will those who are supporting us financially as missionaries continue to give on a monthly basis?  These were just a few of the questions that could easily creep in and take control of our minds and cause us to worry.  Don’t get me wrong these were important questions for our family to consider, but at the end of the day we knew we had absolutely no control over the outcome of any of them. 

The Lord was beginning to teach us that we must trust Him and let go of the worries and the troubles of this world that were causing us to take our eyes off Him and putting them on ourselves.  In Matthew 6, Jesus was teaching His disciples not to worry about things they had no control over.  He was encouraging them to trust the Father to provide everything they would need.  He said that the secret to living a life without worry is all about what we are choosing to seek after.  Seek the kingdom of heaven above all else. Trust God to take care of the details, and just maybe the worries of tomorrow will slowly start to fade away.

Lord, I ask that those in Vancouver and here at home would continue trusting in You to do the impossible. I pray that we would seek You above all else.