Board Leadership10

I. Burnout

A. Questions

a. What is Def. o Burnout?

1. fatigue, frustration, or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork, or intense activity.

b. How do I know if I’m experiencing burnout (symptoms)?

Psalm 38:8 ESV

8 I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

1. weakness & exhaustion in the middle o doing our work

1 Kings 19:14 ESV

14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

1

2. “I alone am left, & now they are trying to kill me too” despair because the work seems fruitless

Psalm 69:1–2 ESV

1 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. 2 I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me.

ps

3. being overwhelmed by everything that is going on

Jeremiah 45:3 ESV

3 You said, ‘Woe is me! For the Lord has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest.’

4. feeling bitter toward God

c. Why are leaders in danger of burning out?

2 Corinthians 4:7 ESV

7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

1. We are HUMAN!!

i. we are imperfect and so are not immune to tiring , frustration, discouragement, confusion

ii. we fail & sin

2. Yet, by God’s grace, our humanity does not disqualify us from serving God in all that we do.

3. More over, our weakness is the means for God to reveal His power and mercy to & through us

d. What can I do when I sense that I may be burning out?

Isaiah 40:28–31 ESV

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. 29 He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30 Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

1. A key to renewal & refreshment is waiting on the LOrd.

i. Waiting does not mean inactivity, but rather living with a calm reliance on God’s provision & timeing

ii. Waiting is faith not force

Mk

Mark 1:35–38 ESV

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.”

Mk 1:35-

Mark 1:35 ESV

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.

2. Regularly getting away to spend time with God allows for refreshing & refocusing

i. encountering God

-refocused Jesus on his mission

-helped him to focus on the important rather than chasing the urgent!

*chasing urgent like a hamster running on a wheel, u find urself worn out but never getting anywhere

Mark 3:13–15 ESV

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.

Mk 3:13-

Exodus 18:21–23 ESV

21 Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. 22 And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. 23 If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

3. Jesus build a team, who would partner with him & he could delegate responsibility to

i. “ be with him” not just a group o volunteers, but in rel. w/him; sense of closeness

ii. “he might send them out to preach" delegate

iii. “have authority...” A team!

Exodus 23:12 ESV

12 “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.

4. Regular, consistent rest is an important part of avoiding & recovering frm burnout.

e. How does Jesus view my struggles w/pressure & burnout?

Hebrews 4:15–16 ESV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1. We can rely on the Lord’s merciful understanding and his holy empathy with your humanity.

i. Instead of condemnation we find mercy

ii. Instead of criticism we get comfort & encouragement

B. Promises from God:

Psalm 23:1–3 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.