I’ve been talking about burnout recently with both my leadership team and racers. Why do Christians so often burn out in seasons that the Father ordained?
God never places our feet some place that he doesn’t also intend on sustaining us in. I don’t think we ever have to burn out. And I think the cure to chronic burnout is simple, it’s in His presence; it is His presence.
I spent 2016 camped out in John 10:10 and John 15, learning how to abide in abundance. Because if I’m dwelling in abundance then I should have more than I need; which should mean that I have enough to give too. I developed disciplines that allowed me to remain, so that I could live and give out of that overflow in every season.
When we remain, we place ourselves in the river: the center of everything that’s flowing from the source. Grace. Mercy. Knowledge. Wisdom. Power. Love. It’s all there.
People ask me how I’m still doing what I’m doing, that’s how. Everyday I seek His presence and I stay. Some days I have to find a new door, maybe it’s a window. The trick though- is not getting tripped up when the door you went to yesterday is pad-locked or boarded up. Guys, God likes adventure too. And sometimes He wants to meet you someplace new, show up somewhere else and show you a new face.
For those of you who didn’t read or receive my newsletter :: I’m headed to Guatemala in my next season.
In August I’ll be interning at the AIM base in Antigua. I’ll be there for a couple weeks before spending a month at the AIM office for some long term training. I’ll be in the states for the next couple months after that to build a long term support base, before heading back to Guatemala to hopefully join staff in January.
It is so easy for fear and doubt to surface on the horizon of every more that the Lord calls us into. “Am I ready?” “Am I old enough?” “Do I have enough experience?” “Am I wise enough” “Is it time” “Is it actually possible?”
Though some of these fears have plagued me in the past, they aren’t the ones crawling out from under the bed this time. Because like I’ve said realized all their answers are in His presence.
His overflow will always qualify me as enough.
The fear that came crawling out this time sounded more like “ What about the finances” If I have learned anything of the enemy it’s that he speaks in fear instead of faith. And his playing field is so often in the practicality of life. Like money.
I don’t think I’m alone here…?
Has God never laid something on your heart, to give more in your tithe, to buy that persons’ coffee, or to move states, change jobs, start a business, or go back to school..but then you thought, “Where would the money come from…?” And it stopped you?
I haven’t thus far in my walk- made or not made any huge commitments rooted in fear. I’ve learned how to seek the voice of the Father, wise counsel, and the peace which surpasses all understanding in order to make decisions based off faith and not practicality.
That’s not to say though that the enemy doesn’t still try to trip me up with it.
So I’ve been praying for supernatural belief in my spirit to eradicate any disbelief in my heart.
Our hearts are deceitful above all else (Ps 62:2), I think that’s why scripture teaches us to ask God to search our hearts; to renew and purify them. Sometimes we have seeds of disbelief hidden deep below that can hinder the flow of blessings; the power and favor of God from manifesting in our lives.
As I sat with the Lord to do just that, I felt a whisper of grace speak to my spirit “ I have never and will never let you run dry.”
In His presence there is not only food for my spirit but also my physical body. Not once in my four years on “the field” have I ever gone hungry in my spirit or my body. He always provides. His presence is our very provision.
Moses figured this out thousands of years ago when He refused to go into battle without the presence of the Lord.
I’ll finish squad leading full. (If you’re a racer thinking about squad-leading, know that it is possible to run this race, do it well, and not burn out. If that’s the only thought stopping you, I’d argue that you’d be missing out on so much beauty, so much glory, if you didn’t say yes.)
And I’ll be ready to run towards the next thing, full of faith and full of passion.
Provision- sealed promises. These are what I set my hope on.
“In Him, when you heard the gospel of salvation and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire full possession of it.” Ephesians 1:13-14
As we chase the promises of God we can be confident to receive them.
Packaged in provision.
Glory to glory we go.
