Burnout feeling is a state of mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion. Anyone can experience burnout if they are overwhelmed by fatigue, lack of motivation, and increased irritability. The fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control seem absent during burnout. However, burnout feelings do not need to control you. There is help available, and that help is illustrated in a children’s book called The Small Jar.

Identify the warning signs of burnout feeling.

One of the first steps to successfully tackling burnout is to be aware of the warning signs. Pay attention to physical symptoms such as fatigue, difficulty sleeping, headaches, and loss of appetite. Emotional symptoms include loneliness and isolation. Also, look out for signs such as a lack of motivation, feelings of depression, and disinterest in activities you used to enjoy. If you see any of these warning signs, it’s time to refuel yourself with the Holy Spirit.

Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

In the Bible, Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of the Lord came upon me because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, and to set liberty to those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18).

Likewise, in Acts 10:38, God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, who did good and healed all oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. Because anointing was usually done with oil, we can connect the Holy Spirit to oil in this verse. Additionally, Peter describes the anointing to be “with power.” It is this power that allows us not to feel burnout. The power of the Holy Spirit is what we need to have the right perspective and attitude when we are physically and emotionally drained. Other references to oil and the Holy Spirit can be found here.

Pray and take time to ask God for help.

In Matthew 11:28-30, God reminds us that we can come to him when we are tired and have heavy burdens. If we yoke ourselves to Him, He will give us rest. Remember, God loves us and can help us through tough times. Praying and talking with God can release the Holy Spirit’s power, giving us peace, joy, strength, and comfort during times of burnout feeling. Taking time each day to pray, meditate, and seek Him as you deal with your stressors goes a long way. He will help show you the way forward in life.

Remember, you are not alone, and others can help.

It can be challenging to process and deal with burnout feeling on your own. You don’t need to go through it alone. Find other Christians to pray with you. Counselors, therapists, and psychologists understand burnout feelings. Therefore, do not be afraid to seek help from health professionals too. Tap into your support network, including family, friends, and community groups, for additional emotional support. Finding someone else who has been through what you are facing will be a big help. Knowing that you are not alone in this situation but have people who care about you and want to help can make working through burnout more manageable.

You might get help for the burnout feeling in unexpected ways.

In the book The Small Jar, the oil lamp runs out of oil and faces burnout feelings. It receives oil from a small cracked jar. Likewise, God can provide His Spirit through a person we do not expect. In addition, being ready to follow God is an integral part of the process. We must be ready to release the items, positions, or situations causing stress. Let go and let God!

The Holy Spirit’s power produces fruit.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are cultivated when the Holy Spirit works. God produces this fruit as we surrender to His will for our lives. Consequently, we can overcome burnout feeling. However, understanding how to become fruit-bearing vessels is a God-sized calling and one of the most important things we do as followers of Christ. Likewise, I’ve seen how God produces the fruit Spirit, and I’ve explained the process in seven steps. I have used these steps with children, teachers, and parents. It includes the three areas of spiritual, social, and academic growth. In these areas, you’ll become a fruit-bearing vessel.

If you join me on this fruit-bearing journey, we will see how God works in our lives and with others around us. In addition, you’ll receive a short, fruitful Friday email each week. Just type in your email address and name below.

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