B-Group Lesson Part 1 of 4
As believers, we are all called to minister no matter where we are in life. Whether we are serving within our local church, on our jobs, or in our homes or community, we can be so busy serving others that we don’t recognize the warning signals in our own life. As we follow the Great Commission, the task can sometimes be challenging to our physical and spiritual health, creating exhaustion and burnout. Recognizing some of the common causes of burnout and leaning on the Word of God for encouragement can help us stay fresh in ministry.
Prevent burnout by recognizing three common causes:
Isaiah 40:31: We must remember that ministry is a marathon, not a sprint! Everything we do should reflect a steady pace to make it to the finish line successfully. Jesus often separated himself from the crowd to pray so that He could recharge. And if Jesus needed to, how much more would we need to recharge? We undoubtedly give our best when we aren’t giving from a worn-out vessel.
Trying to please people can be extremely exhausting. Sometimes trying to please others keeps us from saying no when our physical signals are telling us to take a rest. Our focus should simply be on pleasing God because He knows right where we are in life. Follow His direction, listen to His voice, go when He says go, and rest when He says rest!
Matthew 11:28: When you don't make yourself available to environments of refreshing, you miss the opportunity to recharge. If you’re always serving or leading and never in service or around people who recharge you, you will soon deplete the energy resources to minister to others effectively. Personal devotional time, weekly prayer service, and being in worship service so that you can receive will keep you refreshed and ready to pour into others. This is where we find value in being part of a strong community such as B-Groups.
As we fulfill God’s purpose and plan for our lives, we may have moments where we feel tired or even burned out. We need to lean in heavily to the Holy Spirit for wisdom to navigate through these seasons. I don’t know about you, but I want to last in ministry and be able to do what God has called me to for a long time. Being consistent and steady is far more important than starting strong and fading out.