Lent and Burnout
LENT - What is it?
A solemn season of self-reflection, repentance, and Scripture meditation as a means of preparing one’s heart and mind to celebrate Easter.
LENT - When is it?
Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, forty fasting days and six feasting Sundays.
Every year during the season of Lent I look to eliminate one of my daily habits to then insert an intentional way to focus in or lean in to growing in Jesus. This year I decided to not listen to podcasts. I love podcasts! After scrolling through my podcast library I have subscribed to over 80 shows! The library is diverse; leadership podcasts, other church podcasts, news podcasts, climbing podcasts, running podcasts, storytelling podcasts, history podcasts, coffee podcasts, and even one fly fishing podcasts. I don’t even fly fish, but I love hearing stories about “the big catch”!
In the place of podcasts for this years Lent season I have chosen two books to read through audiobook. They are pictured above. Live No Lies by John Mark Comer and Didn’t See It Coming by Carey Nieuwhof. I chose “Live No Lies” as a personal spiritual growth read, and I chose “Didn’t See It Coming” as a way to grow as a leader.
I just finished listening twice through chapter 11 in “Didn’t See It Coming”. And I thought of you. Well, I thought of us. Many reading this are pastors or church leaders. Maybe you are a church member who leads at some capacity. Maybe you are a dad or mom who leads at home. All of us, especially today may be facing BURNOUT. “Burnout corrodes the soul to the point where it deflates” (Carey Neiuwhof)
In chapter 11 Carey Neiuwhof is honest and raw, seeking to provide a way through burnout by taking an inventory of where we might find ourselves and taking steps to find the help and support we might need. Here is a link to Carey’s blog: “11 Signs You’re More Than Just Tired…You’re Burning Out”
Here is the list:
Your passion fades
Your main emotion is ‘numbness’ – you no longer feel the highs or the lows
Little things make you disproportionately angry
Everybody drains you
You’re becoming cynical
Nothing satisfies you
You Can’t Think Straight
Your productivity is dropping
You’re self-medicating
You don’t laugh anymore
Sleep and time off no longer refuel you
After honestly reading through this list and reading through Carey’s blogpost, where are you? Carey notes that, “Identifying with just a few of these signs might just be a sign that you’re tired. If you identify with half, you might be close to the edge. If you identify with most or all, well, you might be experiencing burnout.”
My suggestion is to gather a close group of family of friends to share your thoughts and talk. Get some true rest by reading and studying God’s Word (use the Lent Guide linked above). Call and get some support through counseling. The great news is there is hope and relief to come. Through God’s help and the help and support from others we can push through! Know that you are not alone! Feel free to reach out to me for more thoughts, prayer and support! (Bobby@ahbc09.org)
“His mercies are new every morning!” Peace and love TWP Family!
By the way, there is a chapter 12!
Click here to read Careys; “How I Recovered From Burnout: 12 Keys to Getting Back”.