Martha tried so hard. She felt that Jesus might stop by and wanted him to know how special he was to their family. So, she prepared in case he came. Martha woke up early that morning. She went to the market to clean all the surfaces, clean the floors, plan a meal, and gather everything she needed for him. She prepared and cleaned up the meal – enjoying her time at Jesus’ feet while her sister sat down.
Martha felt angry at everyone there and began to use the use. She also wanted time to sit and relax at Jesus’ feet, but she was increasingly tired of being constantly responsible for paying attention to hospitality details. Yes, she also wanted to spend time at Jesus’ feet. If she doesn’t do that, who would do that? She slowly burned out and became bitter.
God understands struggle. That’s why he urged Luke to include the stories of Mary and Martha in the Bible. It is difficult to balance this responsibility in life without burning out. But burnout is spending time at Jesus’ feet. But how do you manage it while still taking part in our responsibilities? How can you avoid being overwhelmed and leading to burnout and bitterness?
God’s cure for burnout is to learn to rest, renew and sort. It’s not about giving up responsibility, it’s about entrusting them to him instead. But how can I do that?
1. Rest in front of him
Burnout comes from trying to defeat all responsibility on its own. But God never expects us to face it on our own. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all who are tired and burdened, I will give you a rest.” A proper rest begins as a spiritual renewal. This includes sitting at Jesus’ feet, spending time alone with him, immersed in his wisdom, resting in his powers.
2. I’ll update your mind
Once you reach the point of burnout, you often feel like you’re running with smoke, and you can no longer think clearly. The influence of the world distorts our judgments, clarity of our thoughts and perspectives. Romans 12:2 reminds us: “Do not fit into this world, but to transform by the renewal of your mind.” This is the first step to gaining control.
3. Sort by priority
In Luke 5:16, Jesus often left the crowd and prayed. “But Jesus often retreated to a lonely place and prayed,” he cannot give from an empty cup. We must fill ourselves to give from overflow. Burnout occurs when you try to give it while you are depleted.
So, what are the practical ways to rest, update, and sort? “Resilient” refers to bending a shape or returning after being stretched to a breakpoint. Being resilient means bounce back, especially after the time it was tried. Instead of allowing life situations to overwhelm you and take you, you actively set up things and allow yourself to withstand the burden.
Resilience is a skill that can be practiced and learned, and involves specific behaviors. An acronym that helps you remember the steps to implement using the word “Resilient.”
Reevaluate priorities
Not everything is your responsibility. You can see how you can improve your particular environment and events, but that doesn’t mean that God has been called to intervene in you. God has designated certain people to work in certain areas, and while his choices may not always seem the most effective, it is. Remember that God’s plan is multidimensional and that he knows best. Take some time to find out what you are responsible for – do you need them? Has God asked you to take responsibility or did you think you could do a better job? And are they in the order of proper importance? It’s time to reevaluate it.
Engaged in self-care
I once watered the plants, but later noticed that water was dripping from the tips of the leaves. At first I wondered where the water was coming from, but I noticed that the leaves drip from the tips when the plants ingested more water than they needed. When I watered the soil and used what the plants needed, it was satisfied and I was able to give it from that overflow. This is an excellent self-care lesson. Sleep well, eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, take time away from responsibility, and monitor your health. Ensuring that all your needs are met has the power to give to someone else.
Set boundaries
Saying “no” is not bad and does not mean rejection. Saying no does not mean you are avoiding your responsibility. You need to invest in what God has assigned you. Imagine passing on the mission that God delivers to you, and when you head to your destination, every bystander asks you to do something else. If you don’t say no, you risk ignoring the work God has given you. Keep focused. Establish boundaries around toxic relationships that eliminate your strength and prevent you from fulfilling God-given responsibility.
Identify the stressor
Stressers come in a variety of ways depending on your experience, history and personality. What’s difficult for one person might be easy for another person. Combinations of responsibility can also contribute to your stress level, and only you can identify what affects you. Pray and ask God to reveal the challenging areas of your life and the source of your stress. Once you have identified stress, you will determine whether your priorities match what God intends for you. Start developing by sorting boundaries to protect these specific stressors.
Live recognition
Burnout has a kind of blindness. We focus on internal stress states and cloud our perceptions of reality. Stress distraction can prevent us from realizing what is really important. Ask God to open his eyes to the real thing. Listening to your body, God has created us and our bodies and created us for survival. Don’t ignore the signal it is giving you.
Pay attention to your surroundings, smell the roses, listen to the rain, feel the wind and enjoy the sun. Don’t be so distracted by the stress of overlooking the blessings God is in your way. Beware of God’s wink.
I’ll bring you rest
There’s nothing like a good nap. And you might say, “When do I have time for that?” The answer is when you put it on your schedule. Set a few minutes apart every day for mental, social, and physical rest. You are just as important as others in your life, so take your time to rejuvenate. If God rests after working in the garden, should we give our bodies time to rest on the Sabbath and heal from the stresses of life?
Enjoy your hobbies
enjoy! It’s not a sin to laugh and spend time enjoying it. God has given us colours, flowers, animals and talent. If you’ve ever wanted to learn to paint, do it. It doesn’t take much money or time. You need to prioritize your fun with your schedule. You can even leave it for an hour a week and try the colours of adult coloring books, new recipes if you like cooking, or play stupid video games if you enjoy it. It takes time to break it down.
Develop exercise
Get out of your house, building, or car and move around! Walk, run, exercise, stretch. No hours of training is required. In minutes a day to move your body, it stimulates the hormonal system God has set up to readjust your brain. Stretching helps relieve muscle pain and tension that are restricted due to inactivity. Instead of reaching for over-the-counter medication, reach into the sky and stretch the muscles that contract during stress.
Trust God
God is watching over you. He sees your stress and he understands your burnout. Do not reach a place where enemies can transplant bitterness. Keep this by inflicting your stress and anxiety on God. Release the burden on him and let them go. He is wise enough to deal with them, and will provide you with the rest you need.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Fatcamera
Dr. Cindy Collier, a retired educator and psychologist in 35 years, is currently a mission director, speaker, female Bible teacher and writer. She is featured in Crosswalk’s Bible Study Tools and is the author of two educational books: Special Educator’s Toolkit and The Data Collection Toolkit. She is a survivor of an abusive marriage controlled by addiction, pornography and mental illness. Cindy uses her testimony and shares the testimony of other women, praises God on her website, cindycollier.org and her social media site.
