Dealing With Ministry Burn-Out
A little girl had been trying for months to learn how to tie her shoes. Finally she grasped the knack of shoe tying and was able to do it by herself. Her parents expected the daughter to be delighted – but that is not what happened. After she had displayed her new skill in front of her parents – her father found her crying in her room. The father asked, “Why are you crying?” She sobbed, "I just learned how to tie my shoes – and now I can do it all by myself." The Father said, "That’s wonderful, Honey. That’s great. It shows you are growing up – it shows you can take care of yourself." She replied, "Yes but now that I can tie my own shoes – I’ll have to do it all by myself – for the rest of my life."
Isn’t it interesting that one of the unwritten laws of life seems to be that when you experience a high in life – a low is soon to follow. At one moment you are standing on the mountaintop – and a short time later – you are walking through the valley. That seems to be what happens in our scripture reading for today. Today we are going to look at a prophet by the name of Elijah. He was a great prophet of the Old Testament.
If you recall Elijah was the Prophet who came on the scene when there was great corruption in the Nation of Israel. King Ahab had come into power. The Message Bible tells us:
“Ahab son of Omri did even more open evil before God than anyone yet—a new champion in evil!” 1 Kings 16:30 (MSG)
We find that Ahab – promoted false worship openly. He set up an altar to the false god Baal and also made a wooden image for people to worship. Needless to say – Ahab made God angrier than all the previous kings of Israel before him. (1 Kings 16:33)
So God sent Elijah to confront Ahab. Here is what Elijah did – he prayed that no rain would fall on the land Israel until he prayed to God again – and asked for it to rain. God granted that request. For three years it did not rain – not a drop. In fact the Bible even says that it was so dry that there was not even dew on the ground. (1 Kings 17:1)
As soon as Elijah confronted Ahab about the wickedness in the land – God told Elijah to head for the hills. While Elijah was in the wilderness – the ravens would bring him bread and meat two times a day so that he had food to eat. Where he went there was a small brook there by the name of Cherith whose water flowed into the Jordan River. But over a period of time – the brook dried up. So God told Elijah to go to the city of Zarephath and there he would find a widow who would care for him during the drought. Elijah found the woman – and she – with just enough flour to prepare a small meal for her-self and her son – agreed to make a biscuit for him. Elijah promised her though – that if she made him a meal – the flour bin and the oil jar would not go empty. It didn’t. The Bible says:
“The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry.” 1 Kings 17:16 (NKJV)
A great thing happened – but a bad thing happened too. Even though food was provided – the widow’s son got sick and died. But Elijah took the boy in his arms – carried him up the stairs – laid him in his own bed and prayed: "O Lord my God let this child’s soul come back to him." The Bible says that God heard Elijah’s prayer and life returned to the boy. God preformed many miracles through Elijah – but perhaps the greatest miracle that occurred was when Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Do you recall that story?
Elijah returned to Ahab and told him to gather all the prophets of Baal and meet him on Mount Carmel. Ahab gathered 450 prophets of Baal and Elijah – in front of all the people – issued this challenge: “If God is God follow Him – but if Baal is god follow him. Don’t be wishy-washy about this. Follow one or the other.” Everyone stood there speechless – they didn’t say a word. So Elijah said, “Here is what I want you to do – get two bulls for sacrifices. Let the prophets of Baal choose a bull first – I’ll take the other one. We will cut the bulls in pieces and place both on the wood. Do not set the wood on fire – let’s see who will provide fire for the sacrifice. Will it be Baal or will it be God – all we need to do is pray and see who answers.”
All the people who were there thought this was a good idea.
So the prophets of Baal went first. They prepared the bull and they prayed. They prayed, “Baal hear our prayers.” But there was no answer. They prayed some more but still there was no answer. They prayed and prayed and prayed some more – but nothing happened. They prayed from morning till noon – still nothing. Finally Elijah said, “Pray louder. Perhaps Baal is in another room. Maybe he went on vacation. Maybe he is just too busy.” So the prophets of Baal prayed some more. They prayed louder. They cut themselves. They made all kinds of noise. But – a no answer – silence.
Then Elijah called all the people to come closer. He took twelve stones and rebuilt the altar. He dug a trench around the altar. He put wood on the alter and then he put the bull sacrifice on the wood. But he did not stop there. He poured water on everything. Not just once, or twice, but three times water was poured on everything. He made sure everything was soaking wet. There was so much water that the trench around the altar was full. Then Elijah prayer, "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
In an instant – fire fell from heaven. The bull was consumed. The wood was consumed. The stones were consumed. The wet dirt on the ground was consumed – everything was consumed by the fire of God. It was all gone – in an instant.
Elijah then said, “Be aware! The Lord, He is God!”
And what happened next? What happened to the prophets of Baal? Elijah had them all executed. Not one false prophet survived.
That brings us to our focal passage for today. Follow along with me as I read from First Kings chapter nineteen:
“And Ahab told Jezebel (his wife) all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time." And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" 1 Kings 19:1-4 (NKJV)
Elijah went through some high times – but here we find him at his lowest point. Jezebel swore she would have Elijah killed. He was so discouraged - so depressed – so burnt out – that he prayed to God that he would die. "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
Folks, I don’t care who you are – you can go through times of depression. There are times you may be walking on cloud nine – but there are also times you may be walking “through the valley of the shadow of death.” Elijah did – you could too.
It is interesting that in the book of James we find this verse:
“Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.” James 5:17 (NKJV)
God’s Word translation says it this way:
“Elijah was human like us.” James 5:17 (GW)
We forget this simple fact sometimes – don’t we? We think that the people in the Bible are somehow – superhuman. But they weren’t. They were human – just like us. Sometimes we threat our ministers as though they are superhuman too. But they aren’t. Called of God – yes. Empowered by God – yes. Gifted by God – yes. Superhuman – no. Burnout can happen to the best of us.
What we find in First Kings chapter nineteen is a formal for treating burn-out. Today we want to talk about ministry burn-out. Let’s look at this more closely. I think the Bible gives us four steps to recover from burn-out. Let’s look at step one:
1. REST and REFRESHMENT
Let’s look at verses four through eight of First Kings chapter nineteen:
“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!" Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, "Arise and eat." Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, "Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you." So he arose, and ate and drank.” 1 Kings 19:4-8a (NKJV)
The first thing that Elijah needed was rest and refreshment. Get some sleep – get some food. In order to recover from burnout – you need sleep and you need nourishment. God is concerned how we treat our bodies. He is concerned with the amount of sleep that we get as well as our diet. When someone is suffering from depression one of the first things I ask is: “How much sleep are you getting? How well are you eating?” It is hard to get mentally and spiritually fit – if you are physically depleted.
When Elijah was suffering from burn-out he went and got some sleep – then an angel came and ministered to him – providing food and water. He ate all the bread and drank the water and went back to sleep. After allowing him to sleep some more, the angel returned and told him to get up again and eat some more food.
Our bodies are designed get rest – don’t be afraid to slow down the pace of your life – watch the amount of sleep you get and the amount of food you consume.
Step two:
2. REDISCOVER God
Let’s look at our next passage of scripture – First Kings chapter nineteen verses eleven thru thirteen:
Then He (God) said, "Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (NKJV)
After regaining his strength – Elijah traveled to Mount Horeb. God spoke to him there and revealed Himself to Elijah.
Notice that a great strong wind came – so strong that it broke the rocks in pieces. It roared through the canyons and over the top of the mountain. Stones and boulders came loose and crashed down upon one another. But the Bible says that God was not in the great wind.
Then an eerie earthquake ripped through the entire area causing gigantic rockslides and cracks in the earth everywhere. The earth shifted and the ground quaked. But, God didn’t reveal Himself in the earthquake either.
Then a furious fire came and consumed everything that was growing on the mountain. But God wasn’t in the inferno either.
And then – it happened. When the wind had died to stillness – the earth had stopped its trembling – all that was left of the fire was ashes – there came a small whisper - a still small voice. It was the voice of God.
Folks – here is a truth. God is not always heard in your busyness – but sometimes - if you listen - He can be heard in your stillness. The Psalmist tells us:
“Be still, and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10 (NKJV)
Elijah had done many “great things for God” – yet what Elijah needed most - at this point in his life - was to get back in contact with God. You can do many great things for God – but are you in contact with God? How strong is your relationship with Him? When is the last time you talked with Him? When is the last time you heard Him talk to you? When is the last time you heard God speak to you? Maybe you need to rediscover Him today? The Bible says:
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV)
Notice what Elijah did when he heard the voice – it is found in verse thirteen:
“…he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave." 1 Kings 19:13 (NKJV)
When is the last time you really sought the presence of the Lord in your life? When is the last time you became humble before Him? When is the last time you got “still” to hear the Lord speak? God’s power is not always revealed in a great wind – or in an earthquake – or in a consuming fire – but many times it is revealed in stillness and quietness. God’s voice can be heard through the reading of His Holy Word – or by doing act of kindness done in the Jesus name – or by seeing the hand of God’s handy-work in nature. Look for God – listen for God – get still before God - He wants to speak to you.
Point three:
3. Get REDIRECTION From God
“So it was, when Elijah heard (the still small voice), that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" And he said, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." Then the Lord said to him: "Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus.” 1 Kings 19:13-15 (NKJV)
Now that Elijah is rested and has rediscovered God – he is given redirection from God. He is told to go and: “Anoint Hazael king over Syria. He is also told to anoint Jehu over Israel and he is to anoint Elisha to succeed him as a prophet.”
Do you see what has happened here? Elijah is burnt out and broken but God says, “Refresh and renew. Rediscover Me. I still have a mission for you. I still have a plan and a purpose for you. There is still a place for you in my plans for eternity.”
Folks – God is in the life change business and He wants us to be a part of it. God is in the process of changing the world and we can help Him do it - in fact He wants us to do it.
Look at what Ephesians says:
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
God changes you – so that you can help others change.
Elijah is renewed and refreshed. He has rediscovered God and now he is redirected for God’s purposes. He is God’s workmanship – created for good works – God’s works – but so are you. God has a plan and purpose for this world – and He wants you to be part of it. Seek God’s direction and you will be accomplishing work that will have eternal impact. Let us have an influence on the world around us. Let us be the salt that changes the flavor of this world. Let us be the light of the world that provides hope in hopeless situations. Let us be redirected by God and for God – that we are God’s workmanship carrying out good works. Sharing the Good News with those we come in contact with. We were made with a purpose. We are God’s workmanship - created for God’s good work.
Point four:
4. Prepare For REPLACEMENT
Let’s look at verses nineteen thru twenty-one:
“So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." And he said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?" So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.” 1 Kings 19:19-21 (NKJV)
Elijah became refreshed and renewed. He rediscovered God and received redirection from God – then he prepared for his replacement. Elijah taught Elisha to take over for him one day. They ministered side-by-side from that point on – until Elijah was taken up to heaven.
One of the greatest things that we can do is – prepare for our replacement.
How do we prepare for our replacement? By caring of one another.
God has designed all of us with an innate need for relationships and to live in community with others. When I accepted Jesus as my savior some relationship changed. God became my Father. Other Christians became my brothers and sisters in Christ. The church became my family. We all have an influence on one another – that is why Hebrews chapter ten tells us:
“Let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
We cannot minimize the importance of the influence that we have on one another. Did you know that the Bible tells over and over again that the church - Christians - are to care for one another? The New Testament tells us to – love one another – be devoted to one another – encourage one another – honor one another – build up one another – pray for one another – etc… We are family and we are to take care of one another – and in so doing we are preparing the next generation of Christians to be our replacements.
Elijah and Elisha walked hand in hand in ministry – and when Elijah was taken to heaven – Elisha continued the ministry. The Bible tells us:
“Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NKJV)
All of us can suffer from burn-out. All of us can get depressed and discouraged at times. But in the life of Elijah we see a formula of how God can heal us and strengthen us. Get rest and refreshment - rediscover your relationship with God – get redirection from Him and prepare for your replacement by having fellowship with other Christians. May God Bless you and the ministry He has called you to.
(I want to thank Brian Bill for the sermon starter idea.)
