Recently a friend said he was experiencing “burnout.” I offered my genuine concern, listened, and commited to continue to pray for him. His obvious pain and our conversation motivated me to do some research on this subject, and I soon discovered how uninformed I was about burnout. I quickly learned that I had confused burnout with stress. Here is what helpguide.org <http://link.p0.com/u.d?cYGsay0XpfyrJZ8ipaB=1> said about the differences between the two:

_____

STRESS

1. Characterized by over engagement

2. Emotions are over reactive

3. Produces urgency and hyperactivity

4. Loss of energy

5. Leads to anxiety disorders

6. Primary damage is physical

7. May kill you prematurely

BURNOUT

1. Characterized by disengagement

2. Emotions are blunted

3. Produces helplessness and hopelessness

4. Loss of motivation, ideals, and hope

5. Leads to detachment and depression

6. Primary damage is emotional

7. May make life seem not worth living

_____

I also learned the vast majority of extensive research on this issue has been done on people in the care giving professions – nurses, school teachers, social workers, clergy!

To me, one of the most surprising results of this research is that younger people burn out more often than older people. (Learn more here <http://link.p0.com/u.d?EYGsay0XpfyrJZ8ipaE=11> ). Have you ever experienced burnout? What about your students–how will these young people who are so cause-driven avoid it? These questions ran through my mind as I read about this problem.

God’s word gives me perspective to help avoid burnout. I also thought of what others have said who have gone before me. Oswald Chambers said, “If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and broken-hearted . . . but if our motive is love for God, no ingratitude can hinder us from serving our fellow men.”

I share this with you to say that I have gained a new perspective about what you do. I want to encourage and remind you that, if you are feeling like you are on the “road” to burnout, you have direct access to a very special God. Paul says in Romans 15:5 that our God doesn’t just have encouragement to give, but that He is the “God of endurance and encouragement”: Now may the God of endurance and encouragement grant you agreement with one another, according to Christ Jesus. (HCSB)

That means there is no better place for me to go than into His presence when I need encouragement, and no one is better equipped to help me than He is.

This semester I pray God will encourage you so that you can encourage your students and help them gain a biblical perspective about themselves and their ministries.

Related Articles:

• Guy And A Bucket Of Shrimp
• Overcoming Depression
• The Different Elements of Forgiveness
• Government, Religion and Contraception
• Movie Review – The Descendants

This work, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 Australia License.