Feel the burn... out

There are times that I run on a crazy amount of adrenaline-fuelled extroverted energy. I feel like I can go on forever at an event or a weekend away where I am enthused about a rehearsal or leading worship. Leading others into the presence of God through music fuels my energy and passion. There is a Holy excitement to do it.

But then the event ends, the rehearsal or weekend away is over, and I go home. Sometimes, I crash. Other times, it may take me a long time to wind down. It may not always be a dramatic change, but the energy level reduction from a high to a more normal level of operating in day-to-day life is a change in the intensity that I experience during those Holy excitement times.

 

I don’t think what I have described is considered burn out. I think it is just a part of what a worship leader experiences when they open themselves up to the leading of the Holy Spirit. When God is directing you, how could you not feel a heightened sense of energy when working in a Spirit-filled way? The burn out I’m referring to is the apathetic malaise that sets in as we work tirelessly but may not be where God wants us to be working. As leaders, we often feel a responsibility to be out in the front, working and being busy all the time. A plethora of activity doesn’t necessarily equate to quality leadership. Sometimes, we may feel we are in a season where we’ve lost inspiration and we are dry. Other times, there may be no one else so if we don’t do something, it just won’t get done. 

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In this productivity-focused society, we have lost our ability to rest.

We are human. We are fallible and at times, we are weak. We aren’t at our best when we are weary and tired. God’s strength is perfect in our weakness, but we can’t use that as an excuse to not take the time to rest that we have been designed to take. 

 

No matter the reason for our weariness, we need to learn to rest in God.

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