Isaiah 40:28 - Are You Exhausted Spiritually?

[awmiller]

Source: My Utmost for His Highest; C.S. Lewis

Isa 40:28 (CEV) "Don't you know? Haven't you heard? The LORD is the eternal God, Creator of the earth. He never gets weary or tired; his wisdom cannot be measured. "

Exhaustion means that the vital forces are worn right out. Spiritual exhaustion never comes through sin but only through service, and whether or not you are exhausted will depend upon where you get your supplies. Jesus said to Peter - "Feed My sheep," but He gave him nothing to feed them with. The process of being made broken bread and poured-out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you to the dregs. Be careful that you get your supply, or before long you will be utterly exhausted. Before other souls learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus direct, they have to draw on it through you; you have to be literally "sucked," until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and His sheep as well as for Himself.

Has the way in which you have been serving God betrayed you into exhaustion? If so, then rally your affections. Where did you start the service from? From your own sympathy or from the basis of the Redemption of Jesus Christ? Continually go back to the foundation of your affections and recollect where the source of power is. You have no right to say --- "O Lord, I am so exhausted." He saved and sanctified you in order to exhaust you. Be exhausted for God, but remember that your supply comes from Him. "All my fresh springs shall be in you."

[Teleguy]

Good stuff.
I love C.S.Lewis!

[awmiller]

he does seem to hit the nail square on the head!!

[Kitty]

Yes, I think he hit the nail square on the head of the problem, but the solution isn't voiced in this particular devotional in practical terms we can understand.

I've been in "service burnout" before. Hurting and needy people will suck the life right out of you if you permit it. Because they don't know any better, as the article said.

Lewis enigmatically says "go back to the foundation of your affections and recollect where the source of power is." And a lot of it IS that if I understand him correctly to mean, realize that the Lord is everyone's source here, not YOU. But there's more to it than that. You also must make the Lord the governor of all your "ministry."

I've come to the point where I don't even pray over someone unless I check with the Lord first. And if I do pray, I don't touch them unless I sense Him telling me to. And I ask Him what to pray about, not just what they asked for...... you get the idea. I must check with Him for everything.

Anything else is just my own sympathy and compassion for people. Those are NOT bad, but unless I place them in the hands of the Lord, they will lead me into burn-out.

Kitty

P.S. - C.S. Lewis was a GREAT thinker and writer, with immense insight from God. I hope I'm not being too presumptuous by adding to his thoughts here.

[awmiller]

you're not being presumptuous at all in my book kitty....

i'll give you a brief testimony to this fact:

I was a youth director for about 3+ years. In the beginning all was well because my focus was on God. That soon changed when comments made went to my ego instead of my heart and my pride began to run faster than what God was leading me towards. Needless to say I left "His way" and went "my way". I stopped hanging out with Christian brothers in my age group and older and soon became enveloped into everthing "youth". Frustrations began to mount when the youth leaders weren't leading eventhough they were being shown how to lead (or maybe their example-maker was not the right one to use!!); youth parents became termed as "drive-by parents" - they would drive their kids to our function and then quickly drive away. My work in trying to get the parents involved was fruitless and frustrating. Near the end it was clearly shown that all the youth wanted was microwave-entertainment. It had to happen right then and be only for their entertainment value.

That was the breaking point for me. Unfortunately I let my East Texas temper and short-fused attitudes get the best of me and I ended on a very sour note and left the church.

I went to another church and didn't get involved in nothing but men's studies/retreats/ etc. And here is where I got back to my Source. After being with this new church for about 1.5 years I felt God's call to got back to my previous church.... and I did. Not to work with the youth but to head up the Men's Ministry and assist with the Music Ministry in any capacity that they need. And I can honestly say that I'm more focused and driven than ever before!!! Amen Amen Amen, thank you LORD!!

Do I still get tired? You bet! Do I still get frustrated? Oh yeah!! But do I let it get to me like it did before? Definitely not... so Satan you gotta work harder now boy!

My studies are sharper and my process of taking all my head-knowledge and turning it into heart-knowledge (application) continues day-in and day-out.

My focus now is on the Source, and like you Kitty... I'm not making a move until I've talked with God and I'm not moving until He tells me too. The worst thing I can do is get involved in something that I shouldn't be!

So focus on the Source and you won't go wrong!!

Praise On!! \o/
Alan

[Teleguy]

Great thread here.
Good thoughts.

I think the times that I experienced burn-out in a ministry situation were times I carried on alone.
I think there may be a reason the Lord sent them out in twos.

Another thing I experienced recently was "remembering" to choose to love people.
I have a hard time remembering to love, first and foremost.

Tonight at a Mission where it's sometimes a drag I went in with the attitude of trying to remember to love. Boy did it take off tonight!
Everybody was praising the Lord.

Man, I need to remember this one! There was so much energy in the room I got high off it.

Remember... remember...REMEMBER!!!!!.... :banghead

[awmiller]

TG you got it right my Brother!! Those times that I went in for the flash, pomp and circumstance were the lowest times I'd ever experienced. But when I went in with God first, others second and then me... I was lifted to new levels altogether!!

[Diana J.]

Our church organist abruptly resigned this week after 17 years.
He gave no "notice", that is, he is totally quiting as of now.
There was no disagreement or problem, he was just completely
"burned out" ,and, I suspect, was really dreading the upcoming
Christmas season. So I'd like to pull this thread out of
mothballs and ask you all--What do you do to keep fresh
and gratefull and keep from burning out?

[SeanB]

Well, keeping a fresh perspective and keeping attached to the vine is a must when serving in a musical capacity in any Church. But you also have to keep your musical inspiration up to the level that brings you a sense of accomplishment.

But I must say, if it took 17 years for the person to get burned out, then he has served well and deserves a break. (imho)

I don't know of anyone who has served any Church in music ministry for that long on a regular basis week after week.

How do the people of the Church view this persons service over those 17 years?

[hotraman]

Alan & others;
Great post and comments. This is why I am so blessed by everyone here.
I, too am suspect to "ministry burnout" being the Pastor of Worship Arts at my church.
However, I started something new a few months ago: I only lead 3 out of 4 weekends a month.
No questions asked. I still attend, but I sit on the "bench" much like a major league ball player. Its been refreshing for me. I get to pray for, support and serve our other musicians as they lead.
I don't want to burn out and get bitter.
I pray about this all the time.
God is granted me a "servant's heart". He keeps reminding me to serve others like Jesus did. For myself, this has helped keep my stress level low, and I still love doing what I'm doing. I an not stressing over Christmas this year, because I have "let go" anf I'm not the "man" anymore.
There is total freedom in this for me.

[stephen]

.........What do you do to keep fresh
and gratefull and keep from burning out?


I never partake in a performance. Every single time, I am 100% caught up into Praise and Worship of my King and Saviour. I even make it Praise and Worship during our practices.

Also, I never feel like I have a right to be up there, but I am humbled, and honored by my Creator who chose for me to be up there. I know in my heart that I am dwelling in the court of the King, and I cherish every single moment.

[MrsMike]

Wow! Excellent thread. The C.S. Lewis quote is great. Kitty you have such keen insight! Thank you!
MrMike and I struggle with this. We came to our current church home 3 1/2 yrs ago, definitely by God calling us. The second Sunday we joined, Mike was on the platform (playing) and has been nearly every Sunday since.
I got involved in several ministry areas. Two yrs ago we started the Celebrate Recovery group; every Friday night. Several attendees fron the local shelter and transition house. Very needy bunch.
I'm not saying any of this to toot our horns. Do you see anything missing? We have been here 3 1/2 yrs and still don't have close friends. The friends from our previous church have "moved on" so to speak, to other friends. The sense of "aloneness" and isolation can be overwhelming.
The burn out is constant. It often takes all week to fill up for the next meeting.
Now for my two cents. If it weren't for our intercessor team, we would have been burnout casualties long ago. Our intercessors meet with us every Friday from 6 to 6:45ish to pray for us, our family, the meeting,the participants and newcomers, everything. If you are in ministry of any type find at least two people to hold you up regularly in prayer. Any type of ministry will encounter retaliation from the enemy. You must have prayer coverage.

[Diana J.]

Thankyou for all your honesty and for sharing your
experiences. I sent our (former) organist a halloween
card (!) thanking him for his years of service and I said
I hope that after he has slept in a few Sundays he comes
back to church just as a worshiper in the congregation.
Maybe after I have been on the praise team for 17 years
I will know how you feel!
But for now it is new and exciting
and I do not have a burnout problem. Still, I have some
foresight from reading articles, websites and going to a
few conferences. I know prayer and gratitude are of
upmost importance. This very afternoon I am having a
cookout for members of our praise team ( and their families
because I know they are making a sacrifice too and sometimes
feel left out). We are grilling chicken wings and hamburgers.
I hope to do this about every 6 months, so we can fellowship
and enjoy each others company without any pressure.
God bless you all and all your ministries and please keep
taking the time to post on these websites. You are helping
people to become better ministers in all areas.