To keep from burning out, do this: 1) Join a support group. Ask yourself, who fills the role of Paul to your Timothy? Who teaches you to pray like Jesus and John the Baptist taught their disciples? With whom can you share your struggles? The Bible says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend’ (Proverbs 27:17 NLT). Ministry peers understand your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs and can suggest new, refreshing spiritual practices. 2) Use the middle two letters of the alphabet – NO – without apology. Know your gifts and your limitations. Face your fears; don’t avoid them by burying them and pretending they don’t exist. And above all, try to avoid falling into a state of helplessness. Take time to develop beneficial coping strategies. Don’t imagine that ordinary events are catastrophes. ‘They’re out to get me’ is a sure sign of burnout! And don’t adhere to a certain viewpoint just because you always have. Like outdated clothes, it can become ill-fitting and absurd. 3) Realise it’s not wrong to have fun. Laughter increase endorphins (‘feel-good hormones’) and reduces stress hormones – and that’s a good thing! Jesus said, ‘These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.’ He also said that unless you ‘become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom’ (Matthew 18:3 KJV). Kids don’t try to run the world single-handedly or obsess about the work that’s piling up; they live in the moment. The only advantage to living with stress is you might get to meet Jesus earlier – but given more time, your reward may have been even greater!
