Journey Into Burnout

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Journey Into Burnout

Psalm 115:1 - “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”

A friend said to me after weeks of ten to twelve hour work days, “Please pray that I will not be resentful of all the things I have to do — of all the things that make demands on me.”

“I’ll pray for you,” I responded. “What are the things that make demands on you?”

“Oh, you know,” he replied. “My job and the overtime, my children, my wife, my ailing parents, the Sunday School class I teach, my Bible study group, and the hockey team I coach.”

“Are you burned out, Tom?” I asked.

“Maybe,” he said and changed the subject.

Inherent in my friend’s thinking and behavior is the philosophy author Carmen Renee Berry calls the “Messiah Trap.” The trap includes two fallacies: “If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.” and “Everyone else’s needs take priority over mine.” Those of us who adhere to these two lies are on a journey into burnout. We have the mistaken idea that we must accomplish what only God can do. Acknowledging this begins our healing and the transfer of glory back to the God who deserves it. God’s love and faithfulness will give us courage to change our burnout-prone life-styles.

O Lord, show me what to do next.

I want to change.

2009 Joan C. Webb