By Rachel Loe, November 13, 2023

Studies conducted in 2022 show that 89% of workers in the U.S. have experienced burnout in the past year. These studies have also shown that there are often physical consequences that occur as a result of job burnout, including fatigue, insomnia, heart disease, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. 

But what is “burnout” and how should we address it as Christians and Kingdom Ambassadors in light of eternity? 

The Mayo Clinic defines it as “Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity.” Let’s tackle each of the areas they have identified. 

Physical & Emotional Exhaustion

My mom (the wisest woman I know) often says that, as humans, we like to live in the ditches. One ditch is pure logic. The other is pure emotion. In other words, we can either be legalistic or hedonistic. All work and no play or all play and no work. So, how should one work? 80-100 hours a week like tech titan Elon Musk? 

Work is good and something that we do to glorify our Creator. Work was part of the original, pre-fall order (Genesis 2:15) that we may tend and steward what God gave us. Sabbath is the second part of the work narrative in the pre-fall world. God gave this to us as a necessary blessing to enjoy (Isaiah 58:13, Mark 2:27). So, enjoy work as a God-given gift to emulate and glorify Him and enjoy the sabbath as a gift to emulate and glorify Him. 

Reduced Accomplishment & Loss of Identity

Since we were made to work, there is a desire for accomplishment and to associate worth with that accomplishment. When we meet someone for the first time, we often ask, “what do you do?” Again, these things are good and God-given heart postures. The problem is an overemphasized value on our work and accomplishment based on our merit and the recognition we receive. John Calvin said, “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.”  Our idol can often become the recognition we receive from the world due to our successes in our occupation.. 

The basic tenet of the Christian worldview is that our identity must lie in Christ. How often do we meditate on that in our daily lives? 

Paul the Apostle was a tentmaker (Acts 18:1-4), but he identifies himself always as a “servant of Christ” (Romans 1:1, Philippians 1:1) or “apostle of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:1, 2 Corinthians 1:1, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1). When believers tie up our identity in anything but our Savior we are depleted and left feeling wanting.  

For the believer, the key to overcoming or avoiding burnout is to work and rest as unto the Lord and recognize that all that we do is ultimately for the glory of God in whom we find our Identity. 

“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9 ESV)

Image: https://www.fatherly.com/life/your-work-stress-could-be-affecting-your-kids-health