Burnout. Destress with Jesus

 Are you a free person or a slave? Not only third world labourers or trafficked prostitutes are enslaved.

A manager who has no life apart from his work has no freedom. How many exhausted businessmen or doctors retire and die soon after?

There are also busy housewives who never stop doing everything for their family. Their children may be emotionally neglected because their mother is busy with domestic duties all the time.

There are also devout Christians who are enslaved by their religion.
In the Ten Commandments, we read that one day of every week should be a holy day. We need time off and rest, but there are Christians who are enslaved by Saturday or Sunday duties.

A well-known preacher built up a large church with God's help. Many Christians were blessed and countless people came to faith.

The preacher was involved in his ministry every day. He was particularly busy on Saturday and Sunday. He knew that he could not do everything in his own strength, and he prayed a lot. He refuelled himself daily and was filled with the Holy Spirit.

But not everything was all right. His wife became very unhappy, and his marriage began to falter.

He was a good Christian, and he asked for God's help. God showed him that he should have a day of rest every Monday and restore his relationship with his wife.

A few years ago, I worked as a language teacher and was also active in the church. I went to church twice every Sunday. I drove a minibus on Sunday mornings and I sometimes preached in the evening.

But my father was very old and I only visited him once a month. Then I realised that I had neglected my father.

We need balance. Even Christian discipleship can become slavery.

The Pharisees were chained to their religion, and so can we be.

Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked,
“Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!”

Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?
For God said, ‘Honour your father and mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’

But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’
they are not to ‘honour their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. Mt 15:1–6 NIV

We need balance and relaxation.

I graduated from university over 50 years ago. I was looking for a change and worked as a taxi driver for a year. We need variety and relaxation. Before the Covid pandemic, many young Europeans travelled to Australia and worked in restaurants or on wineries.

If you have a good car, you don't have to buy a new car often. Many cars stay in good condition for ten years. But a car that is used as a taxi around the clock will break down after a few years.

Many preachers are overworked in ministry, and many suffer from burnout. German culture is very duty-orientated, and many Germans suffer from burnout.

Do you feel like you're on a treadmill? Can't you escape your duties? Many suffer like this, even the few minutes of supposed free time are poisoned by worries and anxieties.

You urgently need a holiday. Your Christian conscience teaches you to pray, but where do you find the time to pray? Even prayer becomes a duty and work.

Jesus is calling you.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Mt 11:28 NASB95

Jesus can help you with your worries. He can give you insight so that you understand which supposed duties are not necessary.

When you going through life with God's love, you can often enjoy a few minutes of downtime. Instead of thinking about your worries and duties all the time, you can indulge in a sweet daydream.