Researchers define burnout as: "A state of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion caused by long term involvement in emotionally demanding situations." Would you define your life as "emotionally demanding?!"
If you have been alive more than ten minutes, and have a pulse, most likely you would! That’s just a feature of being a member of the human race here on planet earth- it's emotionally demanding. And it should be. Our hearts should be involved completely in relationships, work and what God has called us to do. Our feelings get torn and pulled by the needs we encounter and the sheer sorrow people deal with. We should be emotionally involved and yet, can we protect ourselves from burning out? Is burn-out inevitable?
In Mark 6, Jesus gives us two distinct ways to stay fully involved in life—giving and loving--yet be protected from burning out. The disciples had just gathered back together with Jesus after ministering in His Name. They had received His power and authority to heal and preach and they were probably buzzing with excitement about what God had done through them. After reporting to Jesus all the good news, Jesus said; "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31)
Jesus gives the first instruction to preventing burnout... take rest. Jesus told His followers to leave their crowds, seclude themselves and rest. How often do you truly rest? Are you aware of the importance of taking a break, getting alone and simply resting? You must be conscious you have limits physically, mentally and emotionally and resting will allow you to work amazingly within those limits. Jesus thought it was important for His first century followers to rest and it is no less important today.
Mark tells us His disciples did as Jesus said, "They went away in the boat to a secluded place."(v. 32) But, the crowds saw them and recognized them. The Bible says the people "ran there together on foot from all the cities and got there ahead of them."(v. 34) In so many words, their rest was interrupted.
I bet you know how they must have felt. We may try to take rest but life happens! Demands don't cease just because you're tired. So, do we just say "yes" to rest and "no" to all the rest?! Jesus shows us what to do, and it's the second way to prevent burn-out; stay emotionally involved but observe your own emptiness. In verse 34, Jesus went ashore and saw the crowd. "He felt compassion for them." We don't know the details, all we know is the disciples, who had little if any rest, got out of the boat and were with Jesus in ministry. As the day grew late, the disciples asked Jesus to send the crowd away to eat. But Jesus said something radical. "You give them something to eat." (v. 37) When the disciples react with confusion, Jesus asks them; "How many loaves do you have, go look." (v. 38) At this point in the story, Jesus gives the disciples a chance to observe their own lack, their own inability to truly meet needs. And, that's a merciful way He protects us from burning out. Taking rest protects us physically and emotionally from burn-out, but honestly embracing our own poverty protects us from mental and spiritual burn out.
We each must make an honest assessment of what we have to give. Is it really enough to feed 5000? Of course not. No matter how talented, how resourceful, how industrious you are; no matter how much energy or time you have, you don't have enough. Compared to Jesus, your bounty is lack. If you and I attempt giving in this life without acknowledging our deep need, we will come up empty. We will be so burned out that we will be operating on fumes or the dying embers of past success. When the disciples did inventory and found they only had five loaves and two fish, they gave it to Jesus. He blessed it, and it was sufficient. (v. 41, 42) The same is true for you and me. We give to God what we have and He gives through us what the world needs.
My friend, if you need rest, ask God to provide you the wisdom and time to take it. If you are assuming your ability is enough, ask God to show you your own emptiness so you can give to Him what little you really have and watch Him provide. His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (II Peter 1:3)
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