Viewpoint: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? The Biblical Antidote to Burnout

We are now over fifteen months since the first ‘Lockdown and I think we have all arrived at the conclusion that things aren’t going to return to normal.

Things have changed - most of us can identify positives in there - but in the business world I have not met anyone that thinks that things are ‘easier’.

There is still the sense that we are in limbo, there is an absence of the routines and rhythms that bring balance alongside work pressure . The body can endure short spikes of adrenaline, but as weeks turn into months the relentless volume of change that we all are processing on a weekly basis will take it’s toll unless we can ‘get away’ with the one who gives true rest.

The late Eugene Peterson’s words stick in my head “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?” and then as he paraphrases Jesus’s words in Matthew in a way that displays Jesus’s desire for us to live a life is underpinned by grace the reader can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that Christ our Saviour has the answer that we need.

Matthew 11:29-30 The Message (MSG)

28-30 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

If this is where you are this week you should watch this 12 minute video taken from the Lausanne Movement’s Global Workplace Forum last year, that in a very practical way shows how the Bible addresses the very real issue of burnout. Covering a proper understanding of work, rest and sabbath this video covers a lot of ground in a short time.