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Overcoming Burnout
In our study of zeal last spring from Phillip Shumake’s book Lifelong Zeal: How to Build Lasting Passion for God, I presented a lesson on overcoming burnout. The Merriam Webster definition of burnout is exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. “Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” – Isaiah 40:30-31
Burnout is a problem common to many Christians. Only strong and determined people who refuse to give up on important goals ever face burnout. Many give up long before things get tough enough for burnout. We will face challenges in our life such as caring for an elderly spouse or parent, loneliness/isolation, or sharing in the burdens of our brethren. Jesus promised that we would experience trials. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”- John 16:33
A study of Elijah provides an example of burnout and God’s remedy to burnout. In 1 Kings 18 Elijah called for the 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah to meet on Mount Carmel with all the children of Israel as witness. Elijah challenged their god and had the prophets of Baal first cut a bull into pieces and lay it on wood. Elijah mocked them and said “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”
After the failure of the Baal worshipers Elijah prepared an altar for the Lord. He prepared the bull as the former had. He even drenched the sacrifice and the wood with water. The fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice. After this display of God’s power the people believed and delivered the Baal worshipers to Elijah to be executed.
At this point Elijah should have on top of the world. God had worked through him to accomplish a great victory. However, we see that he suddenly faced another challenge and was completely burned out, unable to meet the call. After Jezebel found out about the execution of her prophets she sent a message threatening to kill Elijah within 24 hours. He ran for his life and went into the wilderness. He prayed that he might die and said, “It is enough! Now Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!” Furthermore he went 40 days into the wilderness at God’s instruction and hid in a cave. When questioned by the Lord “What are you doing here Elijah?” He answered in 1 Kings 19:10 “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”
Obviously Elijah is acting somewhat illogically after witnessing the power of the Lord against the Baal worshipers. Again, going back to the definition of burnout: exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. He was faced by bitter disappointment at the fact that Israel was not converted after his victory on Mount Carmel. We also know that Elijah had faced prolonged stress over the previous three and a half years being hunted by Ahab and sustained by the providence of God by the Brook Cherith, ravens, and widows.
Can we look at Elijah’s burnout and apply this in our own lives? What specifically can be seen as obstacles to Elijah’s zeal?
- Heat – our heat source is God. Elijah was witness to God’s magnificence…the drought, his own sustenance in the wilderness, then the fiery consumption of the burnt offering. However, Elijah lost courage at the final challenge posed by Jezebel and felt like his efforts had been in vain. He felt alone and did not pray to God for help, other than to ask God to take his life.
- Fuel – We must focus on amplifying our energy to fuel our zeal. Elijah had lost several key factors in amplifying his energy. He allowed Jezebel to break his courage. He then ran 100 miles from Jezreel to Beersheba and slept out of sheer exhaustion. He was then provided 2 meals by an angel and then traveled for 40 days and 200 miles to Mount Horeb. His physical lack of fuel is great at this point. Also, there is no mention of Elijah praying or meditating during this period leading one to believe that he is also suffering a spiritual fuel deficiency.
- Environment – Elijah felt alone in Israel as the last loyal prophet to God. See 1 Kings 10:19 So he (Elijah) said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.” He was faced by a multitude of Baal worshippers and was alone (or so he believed) to stand for the Lord.
We must be able to look at our current situations and analyze any deficiencies that we might have which could be leading up to or contributing to burnout of our zeal.
Elijah’s zeal was restored through several actions which we can emulate.
Heat
1. Spend time alone with God. Elijah was greeted by God’s presence in the cave of Mount Horeb. We can read, meditate, and pray. As we can see our worth to God given His mercy shown to us then we should be able to see the worth in ourselves.
2. Speak honestly about our feelings. Elijah poured out his soul repeatedly to God as he identified his feelings of doubt and isolation. We cannot hide anything from God and it is good for us to consciously identify our feelings to God.
Fuel
1. See God working in His ways. 1 Kings 19: 11-13 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
Elijah witnessed the awe of God’s power followed by His gentleness. Remember God’s sovereignty and omniscience. Appreciate His works all around us. Read about His actions on our behalf throughout the Bible. Appreciate the ways he works in our lives daily.
2. Set out for the next act of service. One of the things that brought Elijah out of his funk was being given another work to begin. This allowed Elijah to refocus and renew his energy to start out on another task. 1 Kings 19:15-16 Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.
Now we do not have to start out with such a lofty task. It is sufficient to begin small. Something as simple as a call to a shut-in, a letter, or a visit can get us on the right track. Rather than focusing on ourselves, we can focus on other tasks and get going again. It is always difficult in the beginning…take for example an exercise program. If you have ever had a regular exercise routine and then quit for a period of time, you know how hard it can be to get started again. In the beginning there is dread and procrastination, but once you get back in the routine it becomes easier and you feel renewed energy.
Environment
We are not alone. As stated by Elijah 3 times, he felt isolated and alone in his struggles for the Lord. He felt surrounded by a nation of pagans without sympathizers. However, God showed him that He had reserved a remnant of 7,000 in Israel to fight. Also God provided Elisha as a peer and successor. We must find likeminded Christians to share in our struggles and confide in when we feel burnout creeping in. Certainly attending services allows for edification of one another. God appointed Aaron and Hur to help Moses when he was exhausted from holding up the rod at the battle with the Amalekites. Who do you have to hold up your arms when you are weak? We have our elders and evangelist and we should seek out others to confide in.
Above all, remember the promise of our eternal reward.
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” -2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Mark Hammonds
