There is probably not a topic more critical for pastors and leaders than the topic of burnout. Burnout happens in just about every profession. But there is a uniqueness as burnout touches ministry and ministry leaders. These last few years have been somewhat convoluted. There have been several years dealing with the pandemic, with lockdowns, an exhausting election process, and the issues of fairness and the economy. I’ve probably just reminded you of something you’ve been trying to forget. Well, in light of this, one fundamental first step for me in protection from burnout has been digging into my own personal spiritual and physical health. There is a phrase that has been helpful to me. That two-word phrase is “Go deep.”

In my younger years, I was an athlete. Today, I’m an aging athlete. One of my claims to fame was that I was able to throw a football a long way. So, if I was playing a pickup game of football, if I said, “Go deep,” they knew what that meant.

Going deep with God is different. In your relationship with God and others, it means studying God’s Word to find refreshment, strength, and renewal. Not just searching the Scriptures to prepare for a sermon. In fact, going deep may have saved my life.

Let me explain. As a senior pastor, I employed five full-time pastors and a bunch of part-time leaders. We had a great ministry, but one day, I found myself asking the question, “Why do I feel so detached from everyone?” I didn’t particularly care about ministry, people, or even my own life.  Thankfully, the leadership of the church cared for me. They lovingly sent me for a time of intense counseling. In the process of those sessions, I came to realize a number of things about myself. First, I didn’t feel successful. Not one day of my life. Secondly, I realized how distant I felt from God. I told the counselor about the struggles in my life, many pointing back to my brother’s suicide when I was a teenager. In the process of sharing my life with a counselor, he said, “When did you feel closest to God?” I had to think all the way back to my college days when I first came to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That’s when I was white-hot for God. In fact, I was a “wild man” for God. I voraciously read and studied God‘s word, and I grew so quickly in my love for God and my love for other people.

It was hard for me to own the fact that I wasn’t “close to God” at this place in life. What I mean is that I was a successful pastor by some metrics, and I was far from being excited about my relationship with God. But I came to understand that I needed the courage, to be honest with the “what is,” otherwise you’ll never get to the “what should be”.

From that moment on, I chose to be in God‘s word every day, not just to preach a good sermon, but to let the word of God wash over me… Refresh me… Renew me. Several verses in the Bible became very meaningful to me in new ways. Psalm 23:2 says, ‘He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters.’ In a new way, I realized that God was involved in the circumstances that led me in the past and will lead me in the future to renewal. Psalm 23 became a comforting passage again to me.

Another passage was Isaiah 40:31 ‘but to those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’ I was so tired and so weary, but in a fresh way, I recognized that those who hope in the Lord and those who trust in the Lord get renewed, and I hadn’t done that for such a long time.

Another passage was Psalm 51:10: ‘Create me a pure heart, oh God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’ I know that was David’s prayer in the Old Testament, but I made it my prayer as well. I asked God for renewal.

One final passage of Scripture was Ecclesiastes 4:10-11 ‘Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them back up.’ I needed help to get back on my feet again. The help came from going deep in God‘s Word and deep into my relationships with my friends and mentors.

I came to realize that there was a theme in those verses. It was present in every one of them. It was the theme of renewal, refreshment, revival, and restoration.

Those verses are familiar to all of you, but especially to those who are on the verge of burnout. Because they’re familiar to you, that can be a disadvantage. You may have heard of the phrase “familiarity breeds contempt.” You might not realize this comes from Aesop Fables. It means when it comes to familiar stuff… We don’t listen as sharply.

William Hazlett said, “…although familiarity may not breed contempt, it takes off the edge of admiration.” So, may I encourage you to look with fresh eyes at those passages? You may find it brings great comfort and staves off the weight of burnout.