In the 1970s an American psychologist coined the term burnout as describing the results of exhaustion, stress, heavy responsibility and lack of acknowledgement or gratitude. (Are you smiling?) Google it and you will find doctors, nurses, teachers, police officers, clergy and countless volunteer organizations giving their examples. 

Before this, somewhat the same definition could be found, but in my limited research it was not number one. More commonly, burnout related to fire that had ceased to burn due to change in one of its three requirements. Remember from your elementary science class that fire needs three elements; oxygen, heat and fuel. Living in areas in both the US and Asia prone to wildfires I can relate to hearing news of a “fire finally burning out”. Could’ve been the lack of vegetation, dying winds, or cooling rain. 

Let me put these definitions into a personal analogy. If I’m experiencing burnout, what is missing? True, I’m not a fire but just imagine I am. What are the elements needed to keep me from burning out? 

Sleep? Change in priorities? A letting go of expectations and dreams? Carving out quiet time before God – no agenda? Saying no? Counseling? Maybe you’re laughing at this list and have something totally different.

Though the Bible does not use the word “burnout”, it does repeatedly give us characters that are over-worked, under-appreciated, depressed and confused. 

Job is painful to read, Moses and the Israelites, and Paul bluntly tells Timothy how he was deserted. To name only three. 

David writes, 

Come quickly.

Save me.

Relent, Lord.

Hear me.

Why, O Lord?

Which one have you used? 

Scripture does not ignore or belittle such cries or the souls that voice them. 

Come onto me, all you who are weary.

Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.

The Spirit prays when we don’t know what to say.

We are not alone!

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”