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It is fair to say that most congregations are largely unaware of this problem, or do not understand what it means for the pastor and his family to be confronted with burnout.
In the USA it is estimated that some 1500 people leave pastoral ministry each month due to burnout, conflict or moral failure.
The problem is that we do not sacrifice alone. It may sound heroic, even romantic, to burn out for Jesus. The reality is that others are implicated in our crashes. A spouse, children, ministry colleagues, prayer partners and faithful friends, all are drawn in to supporting us and propping us up when we collapse.
the rebuke of Psalm 127 is to those whose sleeplessness is caused by “anxious toil”: burning the candle at both ends because we will not trust God for the work.
Like the manna in the wilderness, rest is an exercise in trust.
The word “devote” is a strong word meaning “to give time and energy to”. But notice this: if a temporary pause in sexual intimacy allows a couple to give time and energy to prayer that they would not otherwise be able to give, then it must follow that the maintenance of a healthy sexual intimacy in normal married life also needs the investment of time and energy. For otherwise the temporary cessation would not free up time and energy!
Times of quiet, enjoyment of beauty, the experience of refreshing exercise, stimulating sport, wonderful music, wholesome reading and conversation, can at their best be God’s handmaidens to spiritual refreshment, as they are combined with hearing afresh the promises of God in the gospel.
“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place,” says the Lord Jesus to his disciples, “ and get some rest.” (Mark 6 v 31). It is not that a quiet and beautiful place brings us closer to God, for it does not, but rather, that things like this can refresh our spirits.
pray that we will care less what people think of us and more what they think of Jesus.
To walk in the footsteps of Jesus is not a recipe for pastoral idleness. For the finishing of that work took Jesus to the cross, where he cried at the last, “It is finished!” (John 19 v 30, using the same word translated “accomplish” in John 4 v 34, ESV). But it is a very deep encouragement. Jesus’ work ended — so it seemed — in failure. He was betrayed by a close friend. His other followers deserted him. Almost nobody believed in him. He failed: he was crucified in weakness. And yet “he will see of the fruit of the travail of his soul and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53 v 11, RSV).
If joy is to motivate us to gospel work, then joy must be rooted in something outside of the fruits of our work, something that can’t be touched by the vagaries and frustrations of this life under the sun.
When our joy comes from our gifts and our success, we will always be under pressure. For we are only as good as the last sermon,
Burnout isn’t the worst thing that can happen. In fact, it may sometimes be the very thing God uses to challenge us about the need for spiritual growth and change. But it would still be better to arrive at wiser patterns of discipleship before, rather than after, we burn out.
