The concept of “burnout” is well-known to many in ministry. Right now, all of us are feeling burned out in one way or another. Maybe it’s the bombardment of numbers and graphs surrounding COVID-19. Maybe it’s anxiety surrounding the safety of your family and loved ones. Maybe it’s the looming economic predictions that seem to change around the clock. We’re all experiencing burnout, but we’re dealing with it during a time of social distancing.
In my book, Vulnerable: Rethinking Human Trafficking, I speak to burnout like a flight attendant telling us to fasten our own mask before helping others. We cannot draw water from an empty well. Likewise, we can’t care for our vulnerable neighbors if we’re not caring for ourselves.
Self-care is self-focused in a sense. But it’s not selfish in the way Scripture refers to greed. Instead, it’s a healthy selfishness. It’s treating your body like a temple, taking time to heal and center yourself on the Gospel. Self care isn’t self help. Actually, the Gospel frees you to care for yourself first. That way, when you do help someone else fasten their mask, you’ll fasten it the right way; from a place of peace, not panic. You can not give what you do not have. Here are four ways you can avoid burnout in your ministry during the COVID-19 crisis.
Practice scriptural rhythms of rest, relationship, and remembrance. If we are wholistic beings, then it stands to reason that the means of our restoration are wholistic, as well. In the life of Jesus, we find that he and his disciples are consistently making time for physical rest and solitude, as well as time for one another. Also, as seen in the Judaic festivals, Jesus and his disciples practice the subtle art of remembering God’s grace. A celebration was never simply a celebration, nor a meal simply a meal. Each drew on the redemptive history that propelled them further into God’s immeasurable grace.
For more on finding scriptural rhythms of rest and restoration, read my book, Vulnerable.
Hitting the reset button: Sometimes that to-do list just sits there judgmentally. That’s okay. That’s normal--human, even. If you’re having a disastrous day, here are some helpful ways you can turn it around.
Resources for your church: Now more than ever, people are being confronted by vulnerability. The local church is on the front lines for countless needs, and they also need to care for themselves while caring for their congregation. These free resources can help create a proactive approach to the world after COVID-19.
Zeal without burnout: Each of us desire to love others at some level. But sometimes our zeal doesn’t match our capacity. When this happens, our passions become a prison of our own making. We spiral downward towards inevitable burnout. As if peering through Gospel tinted lenses, Christopher Ash writes an amazing book for those of us, who desire to love and care for others for the long haul.
What is your regular rhythm of rest, relationship, and remembrance? How do you preemptively rest and recharge? Please comment below, and let us know!