Learn to recognize the signs of burnout in the first article of this series.
When you’ve made the decision to address the causes of burnout and begin the process of change, it can feel exhilarating. But what about when the exhaustion hits and the tears won’t stop? What keeps you going?
Just because change is slow does not mean it’s not happening. Change is a process. It takes time. But little by little—each week, each month, each year—if you commit to change, you will see growth. Just like a flower can only grow when it rains, so too do we grow in resilience and beauty during hard times. The goal of change for a Christian is to look more like Jesus in the end (Eph 4:22-24).
Here are four things that helped me on my journey towards freedom from overwhelming anxiety and depression.
1. Take a breath and slow down.
I repeated this simple phrase when I caught myself rushing to the next thing, which was often. This in turn caused me to notice the simple things in life and thank God for them—a walk with my dog, a stunning sunrise, a delicious beverage, or an unhurried afternoon with family. When I began to slow down, I noticed how beautiful life truly is. This cultivated gratitude and reminded me that there was more to life than my struggles. By trusting that God was in control, I relaxed into the simple joys of life while learning more about what I truly loved, which filled my heart with gratitude and thanks to God (1 Sam. 12:24).
2. Listen to your body.
You’re not tired for no reason. The emotional exertion of working through unprocessed emotions is intense and can leave you feeling drained. Give yourself grace. Don’t make too many plans. Enjoy having a free evening, and whatever you do, don’t feel the need to fill your time. That was a temptation for me early on—always needing to do something to feel productive, to prove my worth. But there were days when what I needed most was a nap. By slowing down and listening to my body’s need for rest, I actively trusted in God to take care of things.
3. Find your pillars of support.
Bringing people into the process of growth and change is vital and will sustain you in the hard times. I knew I couldn’t do the work alone. Each of my pillars of support knew the specifics of what caused me to burn out and my tendencies to fall back into old thought patterns, and they had permission to lovingly call me out. For example, I had regular check-ins with my direct supervisor to assess my workload. This required honesty and transparency. I had weekly meetings with my mentor for encouragement and to help process what I was learning in therapy. And my siblings and I gathered every month to talk through shared history and to have fun as a family. Find safe people and share your life with them. This is part of healing (James 5:16).
4. Let the only overwhelming thing be God’s love for you.
A verse that I hung on my wall and looked at every day was Psalm 16:11, “In your presence, there is fullness of joy.” In the midst of hardest times, through all the tears and anxious days, I wasn’t very joyful. I longed to experience the joy that can only be found in the presence of God. So, when the journey towards healing accompanied by hard life circumstances felt unbearable, I took it all to God and, in return, felt his unconditional love. To feel the love of God despite my anxiety, fear, striving for perfection, worry, tired body, and pursuit of approval was overwhelming and liberating. There was nothing I needed to do to make God love me more. He only asks that I give him my worries (1 Pet. 5:7). And so, with each negative thought, each tear, each hurtful memory, each journal entry, I gave it to God and let him love me. This was freedom.
Change Is Possible
In the beginning, I had to give myself a lot of grace, which was not easy since I was recovering from working on overdrive. But slowly, over time, I began to see progress. I became more aware of my thinking, better able to communicate my limits, and more closely surrounded with people who knew about my journey and encouraged rest. I prioritized reading the Bible and praying daily and set aside time for silence and solitude.
Your story of burnout will look different than mine. How you reached burnout and how you work through it will be different. But God is with you in all of it. He sees your anxious heart and wants you to give it to him because he loves you. We cannot do anything apart from the work of Jesus (John 15:5). No matter the circumstances that led you to a place of burnout, know that he is waiting to walk alongside you towards healing and wholeness. In him is joy, peace, and a freedom that I can’t wait for you to experience for yourself.
For further help and support, learn more about the counseling offered through our Soul Care Ministry.
Resources That Helped Me:
Searching for Grace: A Weary Leader, a Wise Mentor, and Seven Healing Conversations for a Parched Soul by Scotty Smith and Russ Masterson
Deeper: Real Change by Real Sinners by Dane Ortlund
Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund
Victory Over the Darkness: Realize the Power of Your Identity in Christ by Neil T. Anderson
