BURNOUT

Hey Fellow Youth Pastors!

This past week at our leader's meeting we talked about the topic of burnout.  Let's face it, this time of year all of us are exhausted!  We've made it through back to school, football games, multiple band practices and even the Thanksgiving Holidays.  Not to mention that Christmas is on the horizon and we are juggling Christmas parties, Christmas shopping and making travel plans for the holidays.  We haven't even touched on the normal every day stuff that you continue doing like your job, family and ministry.  Whew, I'm exhausted just typing all of those things!!!

I mention all of this because this is the time of year where a lot of leaders get overwhelmed by all of these things.  The heavy demands of their schedule will choke out their passion for serving Junior High students.  It is normal and it happens to everyone.  There is a story in 1 Kings 19:1-10 that details Elijah's struggle with this very topic (okay maybe not serving junior high students but...ministry none-the-less).  The Cliff Notes version of the story is that Elijah had been busy doing what God was telling him to do, battling the prophets of Baal, and he had been chased out of the region by Jezebel (King Ahab's wife).  She threatened his life and told him that the next day he would certainly be dead.

Not great news for Elijah right?  Elijah's response was "take my life"!  He didn't just want to quit God's service, he wanted to check out of existence!  This time of year it is really easy to feel like that.  It is easy to feel overwhelmed and like there is no other option other than withdrawal.  Now for some of you it may be the right move.  Many of you may be over committed and aren't spending enough time at home and may need to transition.  For others, you may just be overwhelmed by the stress of this time of year.  Let me encourage you to pray about it and to get some rest over the holidays.  It is amazing what a little space will do to clear your head.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, I would love to meet with you and talk to you about it.  

Let me also encourage you in saying this: you are making a difference in junior high students' lives!  Trust me I can see it.  The encouraging words during connection group, the pats on the back before and after the service, direct hits in the head with dodgeballs and the conversations that you and I are having about tough issues in their lives is making a huge difference.  

Here are some ways to help prevent burning out in ministry and your personal lives:

1. Consistent Time with God - Find a time that works for you and stick to it.  Include consistent prayer, Scripture reading, and personal evaluation.  I always do it at the beginning of my day but everybody has different energy levels.  

2. Time Off - Find time for yourself.  Even if you can't take a full day, find some time somewhere and spend it listening to God and praying to Him.  Turn off the cell phone and don't check Facebook or Twitter.  Maybe I'm just talking to myself here.

3. Fun - Schedule time to do things you like to do.  For my wife it is time alone painting or scrapbooking.  For me it means jogging, catching up on episodes of "Community", drawing or writing.  Each one of us has interests that God has given us.  Nurture those things and watch God use them.

4. Personal Growth - Schedule time in your week for personal development.  For me that means picking a book of the Bible to go through and study.  Oh yeah, and it needs to be something I'm not teaching that week!  I also schedule time to catch up on the news, read about Bible Archaeology (yawn) and listen to podcasts.  Maybe for you it is reading a book or catching up with a friend on a weekly or semi weekly basis.  If you are not in a Lifegroup maybe it means joining one.  I don't know what it is for you but God's desire for your life is that you grow!

All of these require you putting them on your schedule and doing them.  I know, I'm the world's worst and rescheduling things that "aren't important" but really are!  Please let me know if you are feeling burned out and need to talk.  You guys are really important to me and I want to see you succeed.  I'm praying for you guys and will talk to you soon.

Matt