WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE FEELING BURNED OUT
I’ve never been great at sticking to my New Year’s Resolutions. Each year, I’m able to stick to them for a couple of months, but then they end up slowly slipping away. However, last year I made a resolution, and I am proud to say that I stuck with it.
You are already aware that I share a Verse Of The Day at the end of each non-sponsored blog post. I also do a faith and inspiration post on Sunday, but last year I decided to try and do even more. My resolution was to share a Bible verse and a prayer each day on my Instagram Stories. I feel like the Lord blessed me with a platform, and I wanted to use it to give Him all of the Glory that I could.
I started sharing a verse and a prayer with lots of joy, and I loved getting messages from people telling me they loved seeing the posts. After a few months, I started to feel the pressure to make sure that I didn’t miss a day. Several times I had someone message me at the end of the day saying they missed my post, and I had forgotten to make one. So, I quickly grabbed my phone and put the post on my stories.
As the year was drawing to an end, I found myself struggling to make this simple post. I had to set an alarm, and I was almost dreading making the post. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me, and I keep telling myself that the year was almost over. Finally, December 31st rolled around, and I celebrated that I had been able to stick with my resolution, it was the first one that I’ve ever stuck with for an entire year.
Then, 2022 rolled around, and I couldn’t make myself put up a post. Several ladies messaged me and said they were missing my posts, but I still couldn’t bring myself to make the post. I kept asking myself what was the problem, but I didn’t have an answer. One day this week, I got another message about the verse and the prayer. I looked at the message, and then I closed it back up. I couldn’t even answer the lady back, especially since I didn’t know what was the problem.
Finally, I came upon the answer to my problem, it is called the Elijah Syndrome. Basically, I was experiencing burnout. I had taken all of the joy out of sharing the word of the Lord and had turned it into a job. I was feeling like I had to check off a box by the end of the day, and I had made this something I HAD to do instead of something that I WANTED to do.
1 Kings 19:4-5.
4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
Elijah was spent! He was exhausted and he was tired! The Lord knew Elijah needed to rest, and that he also needed to have the fire reignited in him. That was exactly how I was feeling. I was tired, burned out, and I didn’t want something else added to my to-do list.
After figuring out what the issue was, I decided to once again see if I could find the joy in sharing a verse and a prayer. I opened my Bible app, and when I read my daily verse, I felt a spark that made me take a screenshot to share. This time, when I posted the verse and prayer on my Instagram Stories, I felt joy! I wasn’t checking off a to-do list, I was sharing because I wanted to, and it made me happy.
Going forward, I am going to give myself some Grace. There may be days when things don’t go as planned, and I don’t get to make a post. Instead of feeling guilty, or like I have failed, I will pray that the next day will be better, and I will share my post with joy, not out of obligation.
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
I also read for your daily inspiration, but I know the feeling of burnout I’m there…Reading this today has given me insight to slow down and be ok with that for now. Thank you.
Speak when the Spirit moves you! If we do things automatically on demand, we might be guilty of speaking words instead of heartfelt beliefs and thoughts. You do what and when the Spirit tells you to!
Wonderful post today. It really spoke to me. Thanks. Have a BLESSED week.
Thank you for sharing this Tania. I was unaware about you posting scripture &/or a prayer on Instagram, so I will be on the look out for them. I hope you will give yourself some grace and don’t beat yourself up on days that you don’t share on Instagram.
Thank you for this beautiful word. Being vulnerable in sharing can relieve our burdens. You are a blessing!
Yes, exactly! Turning a joy into a chore is a sure way to make it unbearably tedious. The Lord does understand, and He will give us the inspiration when we need it. I’ve done the same as you, and found it’s better to let Him tell me what to say, and when to say it. Or do it.
Thank you Tania, for being a blessing and encouragement! I found your site on Pinterest last week and now look forward to seeing your posts! Today’s is just wonderful!
needed to read this post; thank you.
Excellent post, Tania! You need to take care of yourself first and foremost. At 61 years old, I myself have experienced burnout more than once in my adult life. I can only speak for myself, but I completely understand if you need a break every now and then from posting. Have a wonderful day! 😄
I too made a similar resolution and I too had difficulty keeping it. So I wonder if I made that promise to God or to myself? Am I a disappointment if I skip a day? Some days I feel very conflicted and other days I feel God’s Grace as you said. It’s not easy! Thank you always for your daily posts and especially Sunday.