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Devotional
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September 12, 2022

When We Walk Alone

September 12, 2022 by SARAH DEAL BURNOUT Isolation & loneliness
When We Walk Alone
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30

Alone. Webster defines the word as “separated from others; isolated.” 


As a busy ministry mom with two boys, I sometimes savor alone time. I reflected on this as I took a leisurely walk on a warm, breezy Sunday afternoon recently. Just days before, my husband and I had relished in a similar walk together, praying fervently as we walked regarding a potential ministry and life change on our horizon. During my solo walk, with beautiful notes of praise music flooding through my earbuds, I came to an unexpected conclusion: when I walked alone, I tired much quicker. My joints ached and my body felt the burn within mere minutes of leaving the comfort of my living room (granted, I’m out of shape!).


I reflected on my time overseas and the times I’d experienced burnout in ministry. I am thankful for the people who came alongside me through those dark days, allowing me to continue in ministry with a deeper understanding of God’s unconditional love. 


But in the times that I’ve experienced burnout, one common thread is this feeling of being alone. Not just a physical isolation from friends and family back in my passport country, but an emotional isolation, a separation from others around me. 


Judgmental words from co-workers. Unmet expectations that leadership will defend me. Seeing little fruit from my labor. Missing my grandfather’s funeral. A neighbor telling her friends I’m stingy. Team disunity. Holding down my screaming toddler for back of the head, slipped-in-the-shower stitches. A supporter dropping us. A fight with my husband after a day of serving and pouring out. I fall into bed, sobbing, not even knowing how to pray. I’ve never felt SO alone. No wonder I crash, and no wonder I burn out!


Dear sister, this was never, ever God’s desire for us! Just as my husband’s presence on that walk made the journey seem lighter, God’s heart is that “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2:18)! Jesus invites us to come and allow Him to shoulder life’s hard as we walk together even in our deepest moments of loneliness!

Closing Prayer
Father, what a comfort to be reminded of Your character as evidenced in Jesus our Emmanuel and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter - God WITH us! Thank You that You walk beside us in this life, and that we are never truly alone. Help us not to believe the lies of our enemy when he attempts to convince us that we walk alone. When we feel the threat of burnout weighing heavy on our souls, we run to You as our Refuge, trusting You are waiting to meet us and show us You were with us all along. Amen.
Resources
Book: Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane C. Ortlund An incredible, heart-leaping read about the freeing grace and gentle nature of our Savior. It holds potential to not only heal the reader’s heart, but also to give insight on how to help position others to heal well, too.
Book: Expectations and Burnout: Women Surviving the Great Commission by Sue Eenigenburg and Robynn Bliss A fantastic resource filled with insights as to why we, as cross-cultural women and bearers of God’s gospel, tend toward burnout and unmet expectations. The stories and surveys left me with hope that I was not alone in my struggle to maintain balance between reality and expectations in my everyday life and reminded me that God is the Source is Sustainer for all I could ever hope to accomplish or be in this life!
Song: You Will Never Walk Alone by Point of Grace Nostalgia for some of us, maybe 😊. Some great words to remind us that we don’t walk alone!
Question for Reflection

Think back on a time when you have felt alone in ministry. What are some ways others could have reached out to help you feel more supported? What are some ways you can reach out to those in your current season to help them to feel less alone?

Comments
Sarah Deal
September 12, 2022

It helps when others validate the struggle I’m walking through, big or seemingly small, rather than try to “fix” me or be too quick to offer a spiritual solution. Most times, God is already working in me and I’m already aware of key issues in my heart. What I really need in those “alone moments” is someone to just give a hug or listen to me or just simply give permission to cry or rest. In my current season, I could help others similarly by not being too quick to offer solutions. I can weep with those who weep, giving them space to hurt and permission to grieve, validating that their pain is real and matters to God and to me! I think also giving permission to think outside of the box is a big one—suggesting something that a sister in burnout may not be strong enough to request for herself (like a nap or a weekend away or even a sabbatical…) Faithful and perceptive sisters have done this for me and it has been a huge factor in me being restored after burnout!!