Burnout

It is the middle of the semester, and I am wearied. As I was mixing the sound tonight for Pursuit, Northwest University's Monday night chapel service run by students, when I pondered the fact that I am burnt out on church services. I have noticed this for a good while now. I go to five church services a week and most of them I sit through twice. Why do I do it? Because I love it, but quite honestly I'm burnt out. The reason is, most likely by my own fault, I have not been connecting with the Holy Spirit within these church services. This is most likely due to the fact that during almost every church service I'm in I am helping out with running the sound board or working in some fashion. I am focused on doing a good job, one that pleases the Lord and not on getting my own refreshment from the service. I realize that most Christians today have only church services to spend time with God and be replenished by the Holy Spirit and so if, or more likely, when they get burnt out on church services they become distressed. But I have know myself and in knowing myself I know what spiritually refreshes me: personal time spent with my God and discussions about God, life, and the struggles we go through with my fellow believers.

When it comes to spending personal time with God there comes a problem: I'm lazy. I often don't spend daily time with God despite knowing the need I have for my own well-being to do so. I often and easily fall prey to the lie that I am too busy to spend time devoted to God. I tend to spend my time on meaningless things, like writing a blog, instead of spending time with my God. This is problem number one.

The second way I am spiritually refreshed is when I pour my heart out to others, or when they pour their heart out to me. When we as believers come together to share our struggles and to listen to the advice of friends, there is something wholesome in that. The problem is, we often don't have these types of encounters every day. We also shouldn't go looking to have these heart-to-heart conversations every day with every person, that would just be weird.

So what's the solution to burnout? I don't know, but knowing what gets you refreshed and taking time to practice these things definitely helps. If chapel three times a week, or church once a week is enough to get you refreshed, then embrace those times, cherish them but if you are burnt out on church, school, or anything; I encourage you to think of what refreshes you and develop discipline to do those things. I know for me that when I take time to be with God personally and/or when I have a heart-to-heart with a good friend that I am refreshed, and when I am refreshed I can enjoy those church services that were previously a drag.

I hope that my random thoughts weren't too in-cohesive for you and I hope that God can use them to help you avoid burnout.