All of us at some time in our life are going to experience what is called burnout. It could be related to a job, society involvement, church work, or in some ways family experiences. This does not mean that you dislike what you are doing or the direction you are headed, it simply means you are tired and need a rest or a change of direction. Everyone is going to go through a phase in their life when they will feel overburdened in what they are doing. I know I have, and I have heard many others complain about it also. Even though we are Christians and know that our eternal resting place is going to be with our Heavenly Father, we still are overwhelmed in the direction we are headed.
The world seems to be moving so fast and things are happening that we do not agree with. If you read the Bible as most of us do, we would declare that the end times are upon us. However, these actions and instances have been going on for years before us. I am not saying that Jesus will not come tomorrow because no one knows the time He will return.
I have found that in the situations I have faced, whether it be personal, or work related, that I realize that I am not in control and that God is. I have talked to Him numerous times and asked for guidance in whatever I was facing. There have been times in my career that I found myself sweating and feeling uncertainties in problems that I was facing. It seems that I needed answers and I needed them quickly only to find out most of the problem was me and not the people around me. I found out that I was pushing myself so hard to do a good job that I forgot, even though I was in management, that problem solving involved more people than me. Once I learned this so many instant problems became so much more manageable because I turned it over to the Lord.
One day in Sunday School we talked about the prophet Elijah and all the things he was doing for the Lord. In 1 Kings 19 we read how his ministry was combating the idol Baal and trying to bring Israel’s leaders and people back to exclusive faith in God. King Ahab and his wife Jezebel were leading the Israelites to worship Baal. Elijah, through the guidance of God, continued the drought brought on the Israelites by God and killed the 450 prophets of Baal. Jezebel vowed to take the life of Elijah to which he ran away to get away from her. He became fearful of her. You might say Elijah was burned out on doing the work of the Lord.
Is this not what we do? When things get tough for us and it seems everyone around us is wanting us to do something or we are punishing ourselves because we took our eyes off the light at the end of the tunnel, we look to take an easy way out. Some of you will say that it never happens or happened to you, but I do not believe you. Everyone is human and we are not a perfect people.
Jesus is the only perfect person that ever walked on the face of the earth. He came to take away our shortcomings and sins and He did when He died on a cruel cross that all of us put Him on. He will help us in all situations. All He asks us to do is believe on Him and accept Him into our heart and He will give us eternal life and peace.
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for your love and promise of eternal life.
