How To Avoid Spiritual Burnout

Realign your thoughts. Remind yourself that God is in charge, and spend daily time with Him, renewing your mind in His Word and asking Him to lead and guide you as you serve His people. If you're feeling burned out, ask God for rest, renewal, and guidance.

What do you do for spiritual burnout?

Burnout is defined as a state of physical or emotional depletion caused by prolonged stress. You're at high risk of burnout if you're under pressure to commit more energy than you have, and this toll continues over time.

We'd like to talk about a different type of burnout: spiritual burnout. When you take on too much spiritual work without giving your spirit time to rest, process, and grow, you will experience this. Often, this entails filling your calendar with workshops and webinars, devouring self-help books, and devoting a significant portion of your social life to discussing spiritual concepts or experiences. By all means, we encourage you to explore and sustain an active spiritual life, but spirituality is, at its core, about living in harmony with your own soul and the Universe. The trick is to maintain a sense of equilibrium.

Spiritual burnout is vital to recognize and avoid since it clouds your vision, drains your inner energy, and, in extreme circumstances, can lead to a complete abandonment of your convictions. Understanding the difference between feeling challenged and the early indicators of burnout is the first step toward recognition. A state of activation is referred to as a challenge. When we are confronted with a difficult situation, our spiritual ego springs into action.

Deactivation signals, such as burnout, are a state of deactivation. You withdraw from yourself and your greater power after periods of severe stress.

• Spiritual skepticism (“I'm not sure I believe in God if something like this could happen.)

Spiritual burnout is caused by a variety of circumstances, including personal, social, occupational, and communal influences.

Perfectionists are frequently at the root of personal reasons. You may not be allowing yourself the time to walk a spiritual path in a way that supports you if you expect yourself to be perfect or if you are seeking a major spiritual shift in your life.

Friends and relatives can provide social aspects. Is there somebody in your life who has big hopes for you? Do you get advise from a lot of different people? It could be time for you to clarify your beliefs and ask for some time to do so.

Messages from your place of worship or spiritual gurus are examples of community factors. It's fine to take a break if you feel like the lessons you're learning or taking in are moving too quickly or are too large for you to handle all at once.

To begin with, lighten your baggage. If you lower your stress during the process, you will move much further and more meaningfully in the long term.

Make your spiritual practice personal and compassionate by choosing a time of day when you have some solitary time. It might be ten minutes of meditation or a quick prayer and journaling before bed. Perhaps it's as simple as expressing thanks each night before dinner. There are a variety of low-stress ways to connect with and be uplifted by your spirituality.

Take a look at your lifestyle and how your beliefs integrate into your daily life if the indicators of spiritual fatigue resonate with you. How do you achieve more equilibrium so that you can handle the stress of an emotionally hard breakthrough or a powerful physical reaction?

Above all, find a support system of friends, family, and leaders with whom you can communicate. We are global citizens who live in small towns. We are fortunate that, at the end of the day, we are all human beings who will never have to face this wonderful life alone.

What is spiritually tired?

Is your faith making you feel disheartened, detached, or disillusioned? If this is the case, you may be suffering from spiritual exhaustion.

Spiritual tiredness is also known as spiritual weariness or a lack of motivation to move on; in other words, it occurs when we are spiritually drained, defeated, and tired of trying.

Spiritual fatigue is something that everyone goes through. It's all part of the journey of developing a close relationship with Jesus.

Many times I've felt spiritual lethargy and weariness, and I've learnt from these low occasions that God is constantly at my side. If I press into Jesus when I'm spiritually depleted, I emerge stronger, closer to God, and more developed in my faith.

Because of the seasons and hardships of life, spiritual tiredness is unavoidable. We don't have to stay there, though.

Whatever bothers our mind, body, or spirit, there is hope for Christ-followers. Although Jesus does not promise to remove our sorrow, He does promise to carry us until we see glimpses of His love and hope once more.

Spiritual exhaustion reminds me of my attempts to become an athlete. Yes, I tried out for runner, swimmer, volleyball player, and tennis player. But I've never been successful. I am an excellent walker, but not an athletic.

When I try to engage in sports, it appears that I have weights on each leg that prevent me from moving swiftly. It also appears that the earth is becoming harder, and I am becoming uncomfortable. Are you able to relate? Probably not if you're a sportsperson!

I feel defeated and weary when I try to force my body to do things it can't. When I focus on what I can't do in my faith rather than what Jesus wants me to do, I experience the same irritation.

Despite my lack of athletic achievement, I have learnt to overcome spiritual exhaustion by turning to God and recognizing when my spirit is depleted and in need of recharging.

“I'm giving God joyous praise.” I'm doing cartwheels in praise of my Savior, God. I take courage and gather strength by counting on God's Rule to triumph. I dash around like a deer. I feel like I'm the king of the hill!” MSG Habakkuk 3:18-19

What causes spiritual dehydration?

Jesus mentions our spirits in the Bible several times, emphasizing the significance of giving them “living water” and “food of life.” This can be a little perplexing or strange at times! How is it possible for water to be alive? Is it possible for bread to be alive? And how do we ‘fuel' our spirits in the first place?

‘Jesus replied to her, “If you had known God's gift and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him for live water and he would have given it to you…

Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again, but everyone who drinks the water I give them will never be thirsty again “‘John 4:10-14' –

As Christians, we believe that everyone of us is endowed with a spirit that defines who we are. Our thinking, loving, doing, and being are all influenced by this spirit. We think that our spirits, like our physical bodies, require nourishment. When someone talks about being spiritually ‘fed,' ‘watered,' ‘hungry,' or ‘thirsty,' they are talking to the feeding of their spirits.

What is spiritual water?

‘Whoever believes in me, rivers of life water will flow from within them,' Scripture says. He was referring to the Spirit, which those who believed in him would receive later. Because Jesus had not yet been glorified, the Spirit had not yet been delivered.' 7:38-39 – John 7:38-39

To understand what'spiritual hunger' entails, we must first comprehend what'spiritual water' entails.

‘Living water,' as described in the Book of John, is a metaphor for the Holy Spirit, a member of the Christian triune God. We receive the Holy Spirit when we put our faith in Jesus. This indicates the formation of a new relationship. The Holy Spirit honors the bond we make with Christ by abiding in our spirits and bringing fresh life to us.

‘As a result of God's mercy, I implore you, brothers, to give your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual worship service.' Don't be conformed to this world, but be renewed in your mind. Then you'll be able to determine what God's will is good, acceptable, and perfect.' – 1 Corinthians 12:1-2

The Holy Spirit contrasts and supersedes our own spirit, which informs our thinking, loving, doing, and being – imperfectly and sinfully – by giving perfection to our thinking, loving, doing, and being. This is what it's like to be like Jesus.

‘A mentality ruled by the flesh is death; a mind ruled by the Spirit is life and peace.' 8:6 – Romans

What is spiritual thirst?

‘Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied,' says the Bible. 5:6 (Matthew)

Spiritual Thirst: In our innermost essence, the Bible compares us to a well. Wells fill up and flow upward and outward from the source. Wells are overflowing. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, life comes out of us in the same way. The more we want to be filled by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives, the more we will yearn for God and more revelation of God's character. This is referred to as a ‘thirst.'

We shall be more motivated in love toward God and others as we continue to be transformed by the Holy Spirit's renewing of our minds and behaviors.

When we become'spiritually thirsty,' we want for the Holy Spirit to act in our souls, our hearts yearn for communication with God, and our conscience tells us we must seek God's will.

While being ‘thirsty' in this sense is a good thing, being thirsty and not being able to quench it is not. It quickly devolves into deprivation, which then leads to dehydration. When our physical bodies do not obtain enough water, we experience undesirable symptoms such as a dry mouth, thick tongue, achy head, and weak muscles.

Spiritually, we will experience spiritual symptoms of deprivation if we do not receive the amount of ‘life water' that our spirits require. You'll notice yourself losing your temper, feeling waves of concern, and a buildup of guilt, selfishness, and fear if you don't spend time being filled and transformed by the Holy Spirit.

What is spiritual bread?

“I tell you the truth, Moses did not give you bread from heaven,” Jesus said. It was my Father who accomplished it. Now he presents you with the genuine bread of paradise. God's actual bread is the one who descends from heaven and breathes life into the world.” “Sir, give us the bread every day,” they said. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus replied. – John 6:32-35

‘I am the living bread who descended from heaven.' Anyone who eats this bread will live indefinitely. This is my flesh, which I shall give for the sake of the world's survival.' 6:51 – John

Jesus is referred to in the Bible as both the “Word of God” and the “Bread of Life,” reflecting some of the mystery and beauty in God's unity. The word “bread” in the Bible refers to “that which is absorbed into the body and provides nutrition.”

Spiritual bread is the sustenance that enters into our eyes and ears. The Bible mentions two types of bread: leavened and unleavened.

‘Get rid of the old yeast so you can pretend to be a new unleavened batch.' Our Passover lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. As a result, let us celebrate the Festival with unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, rather than the old bread leavened with malice and wickedness.' 5:6-8 – 1 Corinthians

Bread Leavened with Malice and Wickedness: ‘Therefore, let us keep the Festival, not with old bread leavened with malice and wickedness…'

In the Bible, leaven (a yeast that causes things to rise) is frequently used to represent the corruption of sin. Sin, like yeast in a dough batter, spreads throughout the body, causing the entire batch to alter and distort. If we are to nurture our souls with ‘leavened bread,' this may mean consuming violent, sexual, or unedifying literature, movies, thoughts, or speech with our eyes and ears.

This type of bread comes in a variety of flavors, ranging from sinful and unhealthy to evil and toxic.

This is the kind of spiritual bread we're supposed to eat and be like as Christians. When we seek authenticity and truth in the things we read, watch, and think about, we are choosing the nutritious Bread of Life. Reading the Bible (the Bread of Life for the Spirit), listening to Christian music, watching wholesome movies, and choosing to talk in a way that honors rather than degrades people are all examples of this.

We know we can trust the Bible to be a storehouse of God's spiritual sustenance and nourishment as Matthew 4:4 says that we should live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God's mouth. It is a trustworthy witness to God's teachings, and the Holy Spirit will teach us how to read and digest it so that we can be changed for the better.

A Christian has the option of choosing which spiritual nourishment to consume and which bread to be. Which one do you prefer?

What is spiritual hunger?

You might be wondering what the difference is between spiritual hunger and spiritual thirst. I like to think of it this way: you want water when you're thirsty, but you need food when you're hungry.

Spiritual hunger:The Bible refers to the Word of God as the bread of life, as we explored. When we are spiritually hungry, we yearn for more of God's Word.

I accepted Christianity without hesitation when I became a new Christian around 33 years ago since it was the way I was raised. When I approached 40, I began to consider what the Bible says and how orthodox Christianity is practiced. I wanted to know what God wanted me to do for salvation and to grow in Christlikeness because I desire to follow God to the best of my ability. I don't mind going against the grain if it means I'll be able to stand before God at the end of my life and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

I had a lot of questions, and I needed to find answers in God's Word. This heightened my spiritual thirst for God's Word to the point where I consumed the Bible in order to gain a better understanding of all the areas in which I had doubts. It was the source of my newfound spiritual zeal for God's Word. I pray I never lose my desire to read God's Word, and that I never stop learning about His ways and what He expects of me.

Spiritual starvation is similar to physical hunger in that the longer you go without food, the less hungry you become. You then go into famine mode without noticing it. Spiritual malnutrition manifests itself as a lack of desire for God's Word. Perhaps you are spiritually starving if you have no hunger for God's word or no interest in reading the Bible. Come to Jesus and beg God to restore your spiritual hunger so that you might once again consume spiritual bread.

Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness

Have you ever felt like you know everything there is to know about God? Have you ever felt as if you'd had enough of his presence? Have you ever doubted his authority?

That's when you'll know you've lost your spiritual hunger and thirst. That's not going to happen! Only those who have the spiritual appetite to hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied, according to Jesus. The Holy Spirit's infilling and the growth of spiritual gifts and fruit provide such satisfaction (1 Corinthians 12, Galatians 5:23-23).

Our yearning for righteousness grows as we hear God's word spoken. Hearing is how Christ applies his word to hungry and thirsty souls with strength; if we are serious about holiness, we should desire to be convicted by God's preached word.

‘Because God's word is alive and active. It divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart, sharper than any double-edged blade.' 4:12 (Hebrews)

We should desire to be “wounded” by the Spirit's sword, allowing the Holy Spirit to penetrate and identify and deal with our sins. We should pay great attention to God's voice and pray for it to pierce our hearts so that we can be conformed to our Savior's likeness. As we read the Bible, we should pray that the Holy Spirit will use it to regenerate our thoughts.

‘A young student approached his Rabbi and inquired, ‘Master, how may I truly find God?' The Rabbi encouraged the student to follow him to the village's river, where he may jump into the water.

‘Please immerse yourself in the water,' the Rabbi remarked when they reached the middle of the stream. When the student obeyed, the Rabbi placed his hands on the young man's head and dragged him under the water! The student began to struggle at this point. The Rabbi suffocated him for a while longer. After a little period, the pupil was thrashing and pounding the water out of the air with his arms!

Despite this, the Rabbi kept him submerged. Finally, the student was freed from the water and sprung to his feet, his lungs throbbing and screaming for oxygen. ‘When you seek God as much as you desire to breathe the air you just breathed – then you shall find God,' the Rabbi replied after a few moments of silence.

Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty – John 6:35

To hunger and thirst for righteousness means that our innermost desire is to be like Jesus Christ in every way. We shall be walking in the power of the Holy Spirit on a daily basis. We shall see things with new eyes and make decisions based on faith rather than sight.

Prayer and study of God's Word, the Bread of Life, will keep the lines of contact with God open. We shall be refilled with the Holy Spirit's live water, revealing God's new life in us and allowing us to operate in a new way. We will be literally resurrected, like someone who has been stuck in the desert for days and eventually receives food and water. It may take some time to acclimate, but they gradually develop a new persona!

Instead of displaying our own character, we are now displaying Christ to the world. We will have our prayers heard by God, and we will walk in trust with bravery, and we will be able to witness everything that God has done. We are now nourished on a daily basis with the eternal bread and water.

Nothing will have a greater impact on your life than a burning desire to be holy like Jesus Christ. Let us all hunger and thirst for righteousness, and rejoice in the promise that God will satisfy our hunger and need and that we shall never be hungry or thirsty again.

What is soul exhaustion?

It's the kind of exhausted that has crept into your bones. You're not sure how to get rid of it; it's become a part of you.

It's no longer possible to feel as if you're full of vitality. You roll your eyes and make a half-hearted chuckle when your friends or loved ones advise going out to supper after eight o'clock in the evening – go out? That's adorable. You hardly have the energy to keep your eyelids open at work for the entire day, let alone go out after work.

But it's not only about the massive amounts of energy required to keep your eyelids open.

It takes too much energy to talk about the things that are weighing heavily on your mind and emotions.

It takes too much energy to argue with others about things that bother you.

You no longer allow yourself to be delighted about the sweet things in life because it takes too much energy to hope for the things you've been dreaming of. You've been let down too many times and now feel as if you don't have anything left to give — so you don't participate.

There's a reason you can't conjure the energy you need to do these easy tasks. There's a reason you don't participate and instead entertain the unknown road – it's because it's drained you of all emotion.

Soul weariness can make you feel as though you're running an endless marathon. It can feel as if you're treading water in the middle of the ocean for hours on end – soul exhaustion can make you feel as if you don't have any more tears to cry, as if your tear ducts, like your spirit, are forever empty.

When you're in the throes of soul tiredness, all you want is silence and a good night's sleep.

It's easy to withdraw when you're in the throes of soul tiredness — you begin to want solitude because it's simpler than dealing with the people in your life.

When it happens, I hope you take a moment to think about it. I hope you take a moment to delve a little further. I hope you think about why you're withdrawing from your current life and fight the impulse to give in entirely to the craving.

There is a distinction to be made between requiring alone time and withdrawing from everyone and everything because your soul is fatigued.

Recognize the difference, and then devote time to determining what you require to bring your soul back to life.

Maybe you just need a break from your daily routine, or maybe you just need ten minutes to yourself every morning. Perhaps you require a new employment, a new habit, or a new social circle. Perhaps you need to speak out more for what you require, which may require you to be comfortable with the word “no.”

Perhaps you need to have your morning coffee in peace, exercise more, or pay closer attention to your finances.

Perhaps you need to get assistance with your children, domestic duties, or the balancing act of maintaining a household.

Perhaps it means reminding yourself that it's okay to ask for help, and that just because the everyday responsibilities of whatever you're dealing with are depleting you doesn't mean you're a failure, a screw-up, or any less of a human being.

Give yourself permission and space to sort it out, whatever it is. I hope you understand that you must take the time — and that the time to make sense of your tiredness will never come to you on a silver platter — and that you must seize it without fanfare.

How do you fix emotional burnout?

You can assist lessen the symptoms of emotional tiredness by making some lifestyle modifications. These tactics will be difficult to use at first, but they will get easier as you develop healthy habits.

Small modifications in your daily routine can aid in the management of your symptoms and the prevention of emotional burnout.

Eliminate the stressor

While this isn't always possible, the greatest strategy to deal with stress is to get rid of the source of it. Consider changing jobs or organizations if your work environment is the source of your emotional tiredness. If your supervisor or manager is giving you stress, you may want to consider transferring to a different department or asking to be assigned to a different manager.

Eat healthy

Eating healthy is eating a well-balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats while avoiding sugary snacks, fried foods, and processed foods.

We're always urged to eat well, but it may make a huge impact when you're stressed. It will not only help you obtain the vitamins and minerals you need, but it will also enhance your digestion, sleep, and energy levels, all of which can have a positive impact on your mood.

Exercise

Endorphins and serotonin levels are increased by any type of physical activity. This has the potential to boost your emotional condition. Exercise can also help you forget about your concerns. Even if it's simply a lengthy stroll, try to exercise for 30 minutes every day.

Limit alcohol

Although alcohol may briefly improve your mood, the effect will fade rapidly, leaving you more nervous and unhappy than before. Alcohol also makes it difficult to sleep.

Get enough sleep

Sleep is essential for mental well-being. It'll be even more successful if you schedule your bedtime for the same time each night. Every night, try to get eight to nine hours of sleep. Establishing a bedtime ritual can help you relax and get better sleep. Limiting your caffeine intake can also help you get a better night's sleep.

Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness is a concept you've certainly heard a lot, but it's much more than a passing fad. They've been scientifically proven to relieve stress and anxiety, and they could be the secret to emotional balance.

The act of engaging with the present moment is known as mindfulness. This can assist you in diverting your attention away from bad thoughts. Mindfulness can be practiced in a variety of ways. Here are several examples:

Researchers recently discovered evidence that a single mindfulness meditation session can help the body reverse the consequences of stress.

Connect with a trusted friend

Face-to-face conversation with a friend is an excellent method to de-stress. The person who is listening does not have to solve your problems. They can simply be an attentive listener. A trusted family member or acquaintance can listen without passing judgment.

If you don't have somebody close by, see if your workplace has an employee help program that includes therapy.

Meet with a professional

To alleviate emotional weariness, it's vital to seek professional support in addition to adopting lifestyle modifications. A expert, such as a therapist, can provide you with the resources you need to get through a difficult time. Professionals employ a variety of strategies, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), commonly known as talk therapy, is a type of psychotherapy.

Talk to your family doctor

Your health care provider may recommend drugs to help you manage your symptoms in some circumstances. Emotional tiredness has been treated with antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), anti-anxiety drugs, and prescription sleeping aids.

Benzodiazepines, for example, can be addictive and should only be used for a short period of time to avoid dependency or addiction.

How do you know when your soul is crying?

People do not alleviate your loneliness. You're lonely no matter what you're doing or who you're with. You can be surrounded by your entire family and still feel lonely. As a result, you don't see the sense in being among other people and prefer to spend your time alone.

You'd prefer be alone because people bring up bad emotions in you. They don't make you feel better; on the contrary, they make you feel much worse. People are unwilling to assist.

People are continuously asking you what's wrong and other intrusive questions, which you despise because you have no idea what's wrong. You have no idea what the problem is, and even if you did, you wouldn't know what to say since you have no idea what the problem is.

All of this only serves to remind you of how horrible your life is, so you withdraw and go somewhere where you won't be interrogated or triggered. When you're alone, you can be alone with your thoughts without interruptions from people.

Because you're cut off from your soul, it's difficult for you to fully immerse yourself in the current moment. You linger on the past or the future when you're disconnected from your soul because the present is always too sad, too unpleasant, too stressful, or too lonely.

Your body may be there, but your mind wanders to happier times in the past or hypothetical future scenarios.

You may feel as if you're suffocating in the present moment, and your spirit is pleading for change. You're sick of doing the same things in the same way, and you're in desperate need of a change.

If you're suffering from soul agony, don't give up hope. You certainly can. The fact that you are experiencing so much agony indicates that your soul is attempting to gain your attention so you can solve the issue.

How do you fix a tired soul?

When you're exhausted, it may seem counterintuitive, yet exercise is one of the finest methods to re-energize and make your spirit feel more rested. Begin with a small walk; it will make a huge difference. Do yourself a favor and work up a good sweat if you truly want to resurrect. For around 20 minutes, move as hard as you can and watch your entire environment begin to open up. Not only does this movement circulate blood throughout your body, but it also floods your brain with powerful chemicals that alter your mood and assist you in regaining vitality and light. Motion is lotion, and your body requires and desires it.

What are the stages of spiritual awakening?

The hero's journey, an evolutionary process of growth and transformation woven into all great myths and stories, was outlined by renowned mythologist Joseph Campbell: “A genuinely heroic shift of awareness occurs when we stop worrying about ourselves and our own self-preservation.”

The primary pushing off point for any hero's quest is known as the call to adventure. The call to adventure is a break from regular life, a signal that comes from deep inside, grabs your attention, and drives you in a new direction. The spark that sets off a spiritual awakening is a call to adventure. Every life has a moment that, if grasped, will change it forever. The call to adventure is a reawakening experience, a shift in perspective that forces you to reconsider your perspective on life. A travel to a strange location, the loss of innocence, an illness, a challenge, the death of a close friend, a near-death experience, or the loss of a job are all examples of spiritual experiences. Regardless of the specifics, the experience alters your perspective and causes you to see the world through fresh eyes. You've been given the task of living an ordinary life in an extraordinary way.

At this critical juncture, Joseph Campbell advises that you must choose whether or not to accept the call to adventure. In truth, though, ignoring the call isn't an option because your soul is inviting you to change on a deeper level. If you ignore the call, the opportunity will recycle itself like a skip on a record, patiently waiting for you to embrace the call to a new existence, thanks to your unique karmic influences. Furthermore, there is no going back once a transforming and deeply waking incident has occurred. Your eyes have been opened, and no matter how much you try to reject it, you can't turn away from the image of a greater reality calling to you.

You enter a broader universe once you've answered the call to adventure. You take an active role in your spiritual development and advancement. As you begin to manage your life toward chances that enhance your knowledge, responsibility becomes the operative word. Everything feels the same and weirdly different at the same time, thanks to a tiny alteration in perspective.

Why do pastors get burned out?

Burnout is a very real possibility in pastors and church leadership, just like it is in any other caring profession.

“We simply can't go on like this any longer! We're completely exhausted and haven't taken a break in over a year. We're overburdened; there's always more work than we can handle – the need is great, but we're exhausted. We feel like such failures, and it's affecting our health and family life. For the past eight years, we've been in ministry. I'm on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and it's difficult to say no to an urgent need. Leadership is a lonely position – who can you turn to for advice? “Is it possible that I'm not coping or that I require assistance?”

These are very common statements made by pastors and leaders in Christian churches nowadays. Despite advances in technology and communication, higher quality of life, and greater access to knowledge, there are more cases of depression, stress, and dysfunction than ever before. People say they feel alone and unprepared to function in today's world. How much more terrible when leaders in care professions and pastoral responsibilities are involved.

According to a 2013 survey by the Schaeffer Institute, 1,700 pastors leave the ministry each month due to despair, burnout, or being overworked.

According to the study, 90% of pastors work 55 to 70 hours per week, and 50% of them believe they are unable to satisfy the demands of the profession.

Pastoring, according to Brian Dodd, has one of the top three suicide rates of any vocation. He chastises the crowd for failing to support their trustworthy leaders. He argues that members who complain and are often impolite add to the tension and have unrealistic expectations of their pastors.

Reasons for Pastoral Burnout

Carry each other's loads, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ… AND each one should carry their own load, according to Galatians 6: 2 & 5.

To put it another way, it is scriptural to assist others. The issue, however, is to relieve the individual's “burden,” which is the “more-than-they-can-handle” weight of life, while yet holding them responsible for their own load, which is their “God-given-responsibility.”

Combating Burnout

Here are some helpful hints for pastors and church leaders who are experiencing burnout:

• Eat a well-balanced diet with the optimal protein/carb/fiber ratios and portion control.
• Delegate – especially those that aren't your strong suit. Provide leaders with the necessary skills to complete the task and share responsibility. Rotate menial chore responsibilities and look for opportunities to train new assistants.
• No, you can't. God does not always grant our requests; in certain cases, the no is intended to assist people in their growth.
• Have a big referral basis so that the pastoral care burden can be shared – especially if you're a small independent church with few resources. Make use of community resources as well as government or private-sector assistance. Know your local kingdom family and local ministries, especially if they are from other denominations.
• Connect with other pastors, clergy, or leaders, and look into leadership training for yourself or your church members.
• Rest and recharge — even God took a break after creating the world. You're breaking one of the ten commandments if you don't take a day off every week.

Rick Warren examines Elijah's tale and how he became burned out after successfully completing God's challenge to the four hundred Baal prophets, which resulted in the nation's return to faith in God. Elijah was worn and depleted, so when the queen threatened his life, he fled to safety and begged God to put an end to it all (1 Kings 19:5-8). Elijah's burnout was treated by God by allowing him to eat and sleep.

For resolving the anxiety and resuming leadership duties, Warren suggests the following strategies:

• Release – Telling God about your fears and disappointments shows that you have faith in Him to handle your emotions. God tells Elijah twice to “tell Him what's on his heart” (1 Kings 19: 9-19). God can handle everything we throw at Him and isn't surprised or taken aback by it.
• 1 Kings 19:11 – Refocus on God. Take your gaze away from your difficulty and toward God. God adored Elijah so much that He sent many storms to demonstrate His majesty and strength. When we try to be God, we get burned out.

According to John Eldridge, there are two sorts of prayer. The first is a heartfelt scream that frees God to do what he wants in our life, while the second is a prayer of authority and spiritual battle. Both types of prayer are based on the Christian principle of submission to Jesus: “You can do nothing apart from me” (John 15:4-5).

Praying with intention on a daily basis and listening for God's instruction are both empowering and effective ways to pray. Joining a prayer group and discussing how God is working RIGHT NOW can help you focus solely on the tasks that God has placed on your heart.

Christian Counselling

Through prayer and therapy, as a Christian Counsellor, I can assist pastors and church leadership in overcoming burnout and living an enriching life in God. Through the Search for Significance program (A. Meyers), I have training and experience as a facilitator in women's healing ministry, as well as a Certificate 4 in Pastoral Care. I understand the difficulties of expressing and exercising faith amid the often complicated and contradictory responsibilities and concerns we encounter on a daily basis.

As a mother and professional, I'm used to juggling duties, time management, and relationships while dealing with the joys and burdens of a growing family. I can listen to your fears, concerns, and beliefs, as well as explore where you are in your relationship with God, debunk myths about shame and guilt, and discuss ways to develop your faith.

Fear, betrayal, sadness, and fury are all powerful emotions that can lead to bitterness and hatred. This, in turn, can sabotage your faith, erode your confidence, paralyze you, or generate Dis-­Ease. Talking about your concerns in a safe, respectful setting might help you find purpose and value in your life within the context of your faith.

Julie Fickel, RN, PG Cert Health Science, PG Dip Midwifery, Cert 4 T & A, Cert 4 Pastoral Care is the author of this article.

Julie is a seasoned Christian Counsellor, and she and her husband are well-versed in the joys and tribulations of church leadership. Julie is a midwife who has taken further training in counseling for a variety of women's concerns, including birth trauma, menopause, intimacy, and post-natal depression, in addition to Christian counseling.

Online Booking is a good way to make an appointment. M1 Psychology Brisbane can also be reached by phone at