“Burnout can be defined as a loss of enthusiasm, energy, idealism, perspective, and purpose; it has been described as trying to run a marathon at full speed.” ― Kathleen Kendall-Tackett Ph.D. Jesus promised to give rest to people in that condition. In this plan, we can find a real solution to this problem that is affecting almost everyone in our hectic world. Enjoy it!
We thank Rob Carman in an agreement with El Centro Network
Day 1
Scriptures: 3 John 1:2, Hebrews 6:18-19, Isaiah 40:31
Burnout has become an epidemic
We live in a culture that is continuously seeking for personal energy, and the reason is that we lack power. According to a recent article, 56% of people are exhausted, tired, worn out, and burnt out. That is an extremely high percentage. It seems like we will use almost anything to get a little lift—from supplements, energy drinks, double shot espressos, and more.
Burnout, today in our culture, has become an epidemic, and it needs to be addressed from a biblical standpoint. We do not have to live that way. There is hope in God. The Apostle John states that health and prosperity, which always lead to energy, are linked to the wellbeing of a person’s soul.
The Bible is filled with thoughts of strength and energy. The antidote to burnout is the power of Christ— His strength, His energy—and it rests upon us. Isaiah says that those that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Wouldn’t you like that? Would you like to wake up in the morning with energy back in you? With a sense of excitement to face a new day? Sensing that this day has never been lived before?
All creation is filled with renewable energy. Rivers are always producing energy. From the sun, we get solar energy. The earth is moving and rotating around the sun, creating the days, the seasons, and the years. So if all of creation is filled with renewable energy, why would God not place this inside of us? Well, He has. If only we would change certain things, we could connect with God’s power source.
One thing we have to do is to stop energy leaks. We need to get rid of energy-draining emotions, because of the effect that negative emotions produce. They literally will sap the life and the energy out of us. Worry is a good example. The word for worry is an old English word that means to choke slowly until we choke the life out of an individual. Worry runs in the background just like the applications on your cell phone, consuming the energy while we are unaware.
Anger is another draining emotion that keeps you thinking wrong things about people or situations, dwelling on the worst instead of the best. Resentment makes you replay that hurt or that disappointment you have experienced, repeatedly in the back of your mind. Others like unforgiveness and bitterness will consume life and will always lead to burnout.
Some of these energy leaks might be small, and that is why sometimes we do not recognize them. We realize the big stuff. Like having a tooth abscess—you know if you have one. You recognize it because it hurts. However, you can have a cavity for a long time and never recognize it until it gets bigger. That happens many times within our life. These things get bigger and bigger, and you have to do something about them.
Something we need to do is daily remove these energy leaks, just as we bathe ourselves, wash our hair, brush our teeth, and take care of ourselves—because we know we pick up debris. Likewise, the soul, the mind, the emotional parts of us, pick up bad stuff. That is why we need to remove any mental, emotional toxins in our mind. I am not talking about taking a lot of time doing so. I am talking about a good five to ten minutes a day. If you do not do this, the toxins will build up for months and years and become acute and then is when we burn out.
Day 2
Scriptures: Psalms 46:1, Ephesians 6:10, Psalms 138:8, Psalms 118:24, Matthew 6:11, Psalms 23:6
Let go and let God
The Bible says that God is our present help in trouble. All we have to do is receive that help. He is the one who must give us strength for right now. However, there are times when we do not put our situations in God’s hands because it is not easy for us; we always want to be in control. But every time we take control of our lives, we take them out of God’s hands.
That does not mean we do not have a responsibility. Paul the Apostle said that there is a time when you have to do everything you can, but once you have done that, there is no more you can do. Then you have to let things go and let God do His work. You should not repeatedly go back over the same situation, beating yourself up and blaming yourself. The Bible says that God will work out His plan for your life. You have to come to that conclusion whether you feel it or not, whether you see it or not. The Lord will guide you along the best pathway for your life. God is maneuvering things in your behalf, and even if you do not see it for a long time, all of a sudden, He will show up. Therefore, you have to do your best and let God do His part.
Another thing to consider is that burnout is the result of the constant emotional drainage that we are facing. There are two eternities, yesterday and tomorrow, and we cannot do anything about them. Moreover, every time we try to carry these two eternities, it will always drain us emotionally. We cannot do anything about yesterday because it is gone, it is history, and it is in the past. We cannot do anything about tomorrow, because it is not here yet. When tomorrow comes, it is today, and we have learned that God is in the present.
There is an essential principle that you must learn: God only gives life in days. God does not give life in weeks, months, or years. He only provides life in days. “This is the day, that God has made; we will rejoice.” “Give us this day our daily bread.” “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days.” These are some scriptures that show this truth. The Bible says very little about years, months, or weeks, so you must focus on what you need to do today—enjoy it, and smell the roses. Do not let things burn you out and ruin your life. Remember that worry never empties tomorrow of its problems, only today of its strength.
Day 3
Scriptures: Psalms 46:10, Isaiah 30:15
Act as if you have energy
“Willpower has almost no control over your emotions, but it does have control over your actions. In other words, you can decide in your will to do something, and you will discover that your actions will always change your emotions. A positive motion will bring about positive emotions. Have you ever just not felt well and all of a sudden you are just tired of lying in bed, so you get up, take a shower, and get dressed? The moment you begin to act as if you are fine, you start feeling fine. That is why you should act as if you have energy.
To stop burnout, you must discover how to convert potential energy into actual energy. All of us have potential energy within us. It is already there. It is like the heat that comes from the sun. We could not take that potential energy and convert it into electrical power that we can use in our homes until we built solar panels. It was there all the time, but we had to create something to convert it.
God has given us the keys to converting potential energy into actual energy. By doing so, we overcome burnout. The first thing you have to do is take life on a day-to-day basis—not a year to year, a month to month, or even a week to week basis. Then, every day, take 10 minutes or 15 minutes to convert potential energy into actual energy. To do that, we have to develop a calm center. The Bible calls it stillness.
“Be still and know;” what a powerful truth. Stillness is a tool that God uses to convert potential energy into actual energy. Quietness produces confidence, and confidence builds strength. We need daily moments of quietness and reflection within our life to remove those things that adversely affect us. When we do that, energy comes back. As simple as that may sound, 15 minutes of quietness and reflection on what God has done, His creation, and His goodness, will bring peace and calm from our inside. We need to cultivate a relaxed mental attitude.
Day 4
Scriptures: Luke 5:15-16, Matthew 8:18-27, Mark 6:30-32
Take mental vacations and diversions
An interesting tool to gain peace of mind is to take mental vacations. You would much rather go on a real one, and so do I, but if you cannot go on a real vacation holiday, take a mental one. Your mind cannot tell the difference between what you are currently experiencing and what you have experienced and relived in your imagination.
Periodically take 10 minutes and relive in your mind any relaxing experience you have had. Remember the weather, the food, the people you were with, and all the feelings and peace that you enjoyed. That is powerful because all those feelings and emotions will come back to you.
Another way to renew your energy is through diversion. Diversion is doing a different activity from what you are currently doing, but which you totally enjoy. If we keep going through the same demands of life day in and day out, week after week, we are going to burn out.
During the height of World War 2, Winston Churchill, the “Lion of London,” was in the only bomb shelter in London where he conducted and met with his generals. They were under attack, and the Nazis were dropping bombs over England. France had fallen. The whole outcome of this war was on his shoulders. In the midst of this, he left the bomb shelter and went out to his house in the country. He loved roses, so he stripped down nearly naked, got in the dirt, and began to work in his rose garden. They said to him, “Mr. Churchill, why are you doing this? There is a war. We could lose it and lose the free world, and you are spending time in a rose garden.” He replied, “No, you do not understand. If I keep staying in that bomb shelter, giving orders and hearing about all the things that are happening, and keep using the same part of my mind all the time to make decisions to push this war effort forward, I am going to get empty. I have to remove myself from that arena and go to an opposite field, something I thoroughly enjoy. That restores the portion of my creativity and my decision-making ability. So when I come back to the war room, I am fresh, I am alert, and I make proper decisions.” That is what we call diversion.
Every time Jesus conducted what we would call a major meeting, pouring His life into others, He always did a different activity afterward. He walked with his disciples or talked to them, had a meal, got on a boat to go on the other side of the Sea of Galilee—whatever the case might be. He would do something to create a diversion in His life, for restoration. If Jesus needed it, we need it more.
Day 5
Scriptures: Isaiah 26:3, Job 22:21, John 14:27, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Matthew 11:28, John 10:10
Let God live His life through you
Most people that burn out do so because they fix their minds not on God but on their troubles. To avoid or overcome burnout, you should turn your thoughts to God. When you do this, you open up your mind and your emotions to Him. When we turn our thoughts to God and begin to contemplate Him in our thinking, we are turning our attention to Him.
The more we look for answers through God’s principles, through His word, the more we become acquainted with Him and peace will come. “How do you acquaint yourself with God? Well, think of Him and His kindness, His watchful care, His compassion, His understanding. When God gives quietness, who can make trouble?
Another practical tip is to repeat to yourself self-healing passages from the Bible. These verses have a tremendous emotional effect on us. For instance, Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.” That is a healing passage. He also said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Allow at least 15 minutes towards the end of each day to spend in quietness and then let the past be the past.
We become tired because our thoughts are tired, and something we have to do to avoid tiredness is to stop complaining, because that will drain our energy. When complaining stops, energy comes back. We need to stop saying things like, “I got so much to do,” “I’m swamped,” “I’m worn out,” “I’m so tired.” Stop talking that way. Let us be grateful for all we have received from Him.
The centerpiece of the Bible is life. Jesus came so we might have life and have it more abundantly. Life means vitality, energy, excitement, enthusiasm. Most of the time, when burnout is about to happen, we have been moving at a radical pace over months or even years—a pace far beyond what God moves and does. God has an unhurried pace. When we move at the pace of the culture around us, it creates nervousness, tension, and stress—all of which will lead to burnout. When God created man, the Bible says that he breathed into him the breath of life. Therefore, for this quality of life to flow in and through us, it is vital that we learn to move at God’s pace. How do we do that? The only way I know is to daily practice the presence of Jesus Christ. In other words, when you wake up in the morning take at least 10 minutes to invite the presence of Jesus Christ into everything you do and enjoy His life within you, which will never make you burn out.