Burnout?

If you are in ministry long enough you will face what has been labeled “Ministry Burnout”. While the definitions are varied, the end result is that you feel as if the only way you can find balance is to completely pull away from ministry and regroup.

Reality Check: It’s hard to find balance with family, work, hobbies, friendships, and ministry. If you are a struggling or marginal Christian it’s even harder. Especially when you read scriptures like this one:

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57–62 (NIV)

Then you read things like: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:25–27 (NIV)

How do these go together? Where is the balance? It is found within the principles of "Focus" and "Pace".

Make sure you check out this week's video blog:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eS0kUWGnIQ. 

Think about these questions in preparation for meeting on Thursday:

What am I doing that someone else could be doing?

What am I doing or should be doing that only I can do?

What gives the Kingdom of God the greatest return with regard to my gifts, talent, and treasure?

What process am I using to schedule and prioritize my life?

Think about these questions and come ready to discuss this Thursday night! Let’s see if we can find balance in the midst of burnout.