7 Reasons Why You Feel Burnt Out
We asked “Why Do Ministers Quit?” and heard from roughly 200 of you. Nearly 70% cited burnout in their top three reasons for quitting and 38% listed it as the number one cause. Stresses, problems, frustrations, troubles will all be a part of your ministry (John 16:33). Burnout does not have to be.
Burnout is a relatively new word first used to describe “work exhaustion” around 1974 by American psychologist Herbert Freudenberger. But it is not a new concept. And while the word is not used we see signs of it at times in Elijah (1 Kings 19:3-5), Paul (2 Corinthians 4:8-10; 5:23-28), maybe John Mark (Acts 13:13; 15:37-39).
Let’s face it, for a myriad of reason, the last five years seems to have taken a toll on many in ministry. Why today? Why are so many facing burnout to the point of quitting? Whether you are a minister feeling burnt-out, an elder trying to help your minister, or a friend standing along side and holding up the hands of your minister(s), here are seven signs to look for.
You don’t get enough rest: We applaud your energy and are not telling you to tamp it back, but we also want you to be aware that the human body is made to need some rest. God’s word on rest is for you too. You are not superman. And while at first, it may feel good to have people commend you for getting the impossible done - eventually that becomes the norm and the expected. Remember, God says rest. And in trying to do it all…your tiredness makes you not rest even when you are resting. This takes us to the second source of burnout.
You worry even when you are resting: This one is sneaky. You take a day, an afternoon, or even a week off. But while “vacating” you spend that time dwelling on problems in the church, trying to figure out issues with others, and answering calls, texts, and emails about the very things you are trying to rest from. So, while, technically you are resting, you come back more tired than when you left. Friends. REST! See your Lord’s example for His servants in Mark 6:31-32.
You allow too much negative energy and not enough positive energy into your mind. Emotions are more tiring than activity. That’s why a day working in the yard is often relaxing while a day sitting in the ICU waiting room with a family leaves you exhausted. Negative energy = Any 24-hour news. Any social media. Most video games. What you feed on will form you. By the virtue of our work we will have some negative in our lives, but don’t feed it with even more. Each of these first three may be symptoms of a larger challenge: You may be neglecting your spiritual life. Exhaustion, worry, and frustration can come when we are neglecting prayer, study, and fasting. Conversely, when we neglect these things it will lead to exhaustion, worry, and frustration. Don’t beat yourself up on this, just give your attention back to your own personal relationship with Jesus.
You have a bad job: The truth is ANY job can be classified as bad. There are ups and downs in every role. BUT, I bet when you took the job, you didn’t see it as bad. It is possible that you just need to step back in time in your mind and realize the blessings of getting to do what you get to do. Maybe learn to see your job differently. It is possible God wants you there to impact things that only you can impact. Imagine Titus’ reaction to the troubled island to which Paul sent him. But Paul knew he was the man for the job. Do the good you can where you are NOW! Or, it may just be a bad job and you need to find another.
You don’t have people you can talk to about the stresses and decompress: A sure way to build stress is to only spend time with those who are negative or who only see the underside of everything. EVERY minister needs positive people in their lives who with whom they can share the stresses of ministry, who understand, and who care. You must make it part of your ministry to identify those people in your life!
You’ve taken your eye off the ball: Burnout is a result of work exhaustion. It makes even the simplest of tasks seem hard. When we are burnt out it feels like we are walking in cement. So often we end up there because we spend our energies in the minutia of what Paul identified as matters that only “minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith…” (1 Timothy 1:4). That’s easy to do. It is fruitless and leads to fatigue. And while easy to get there, it also must be hard to get out of, for in his second letter to Timothy, Paul seems to be addressing the same type of issue: “Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers…Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome…” 2:14, 23-24). Refocus on the mission: Leading souls to Jesus.
You’ve forgotten! You’ve forgotten why you got into this. As a result, your passion and optimism for the church has tanked. As a result, your love for people has turned to suspicion and you see problems instead of souls. As a result, your mission has become something other than the Good News. Renew brother, renew (Revelation 2:5).
Burnout is painful and debilitating. If you are experiencing that, we understand your hurt and will be praying for you. Please let us know if you need help. We love you and are praying for you.