Most of you know by now that I’ll be taking a sabbatical after this Sunday through the middle of the first week of November. This is something I felt the Lord leading me to last year- during one of the best seasons if not the best season we’d ever experienced as a church up at the time- but now that we’re here a year later, I certainly can see God’s wisdom and sovereignty in directing that step. I am at a place in life where I find myself drained and in need of spiritual renewal- so I’m thankful for the chance to slow down.
Here’s what I know, though: it is not just individuals in leadership positions that can find themselves feeling drained: it’s everyone. As a culture, we are more tired than ever before, with 60% of Americans reporting feeling exactly that way. To top that off, over 80% of Americans report feeling stressed and overwhelmed since the arrival of COVID.
As a whole, we’re exhausted- and the crises we have all faced this year don’t exactly help.
What are we supposed to do? How can we find renewal when life is working against us on every front?
Not What Jesus wants for us
Our state of overwhelm and exhaustion doesn’t seem to mirror what Jesus had in mind for us when He said this:
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”- Matthew 11:28-30
Now- that doesn’t mean following Jesus is all sunshine and rainbows…especially when you consider the yoke Jesus asks us to take up is a cross.
However, what it does mean is that Jesus is not going to drive us into the ground. He’s the Good Shepherd who leads His flock to green pastures and still waters as He restores our soul.
I firmly believe that, as Christians, Jesus wants much better for us that to scrape by life exhausted and overwhelmed. He wants us to thrive- and in order for us to thrive, we have to be refreshed and restored.
But…how?
I’ll admit that is very easy to say. It’s another thing entirely to live, especially when this year has thrown many of our plans completely out the window. So the obvious question, then is “How?” How are we going to find restoration and renewal in a time when everything seems to be working against us?
I believe the answer is actually simpler than most of us realize…but it’s going to require for us first to admit a few things up front that are very humbling and cut against our ego.
#1- We need to slow down- and even stop.
None of us are Super Man or Wonder Woman. None of us have infinite energy. We are finite, and we only have so much in the tank before we are drained. That’s humbling to admit- but we have to admit it. Until we recognize that we need to slow down that we can’t go on forever- we can’t just “suck it up and keep going”- we’ll never actually seek renewal.
#2- Many of us are trying to give what we don’t have.
If many of us are being honest, the reason we’re so exhausted and overwhelmed is because we are trying to pour out of an empty cup…yet we refuse to slow down because, after all, “people need me.” That’s not serving others; it’s actually depriving others, because when you have nothing left in the tank, you have nothing left to give.
#3- We aren’t at our best.
This is perhaps the most humbling thing of all- but it makes sense. If we have limited energy and nothing is left in the tank and we’re trying to give what we don’t have…then the simple fact is we are not performing like we used to. We are not at our best- and we can’t give our best.
There is nothing spiritual or wise about trying to keep pressing a gas pedal to the floor of a car with an empty gas tank. Nothing’s going to happen…until you put fuel in the tank.
That’s what Jesus wants to do for us. He wants to fuel our tank so that we can keep going…and last for the long haul.
But again…that brings us back to how? Now that we recognize our need…what can we actually do about it?
Have a Plan
This is not original to me, but I have found it extremely helpful in my own life…and in the seasons I’ve been most exhausted (read: this year), I’ve actually drifted from some important aspects of it.
Anyone can do this- regardless of where you are in life. What it does require, however, is being very intentional. It will not just happen by accident. It has to be planned.
The plan goes like this:
#1- Divert daily.
Have a moment every day where you pause. Read Scripture. Pray. Journal. Do something that allows you to get still and quiet so you can pause. Don’t bring the phone; stay away from the email. Slow down and connect with Jesus. And do it every single day.
It’s amazing how even just 5-10 minutes of complete silence and quiet in Jesus’ presence can breath new life into your soul. And any of us can find that time if we intentionally plan for it.
#2- Withdraw weekly.
Actually take a day off. Have a Sabbath.
It’s interesting that the longest of the Ten Commandments was the command to REST.
I wonder if it’s because God knew that would be the command we have the most difficult time following?
What does rest look like? Certainly disconnecting from work- completely. Get away from the office. Get away from the email. Do something you enjoy. Do something that refuels you and refreshes you. If your “Sabbath” happens to be on Sunday, gather with the church. If it’s another day of the week (mine is more like Saturdays), make sure to spend time connecting with Jesus.
Regardless of what it looks like: press pause. Stop…so that you can refuel and recharge for the week ahead.
#3- Depart quarterly.
This is a practice Grace (my wife) and I picked up a few years ago. Even just an overnight away and getting out of the normal routine is like a serious breath of fresh air.
But it doesn’t have to be an out-of-town thing. Drop the kids with a friend or the grandparents. Have a “stay-cation” for a weekend. Get away from work and the day-to-day. Do something special that goes beyond the routine of a regular Sabbath and disconnects you from the rest of the world.
Not only will you be better off for it, but it’s amazing how much easier it is to navigate a challenging season when you know you have a getaway coming up in a couple of months.
#4- Abandon annually.
Find a time during the year where you can leave everything behind. This is similar to departing quarterly, but it’s extended to at least a week. If you can stretch it out to past that, I’d highly recommend it. Start it on a Friday evening and stretch it through the following Sunday- and leave everything behind. Don’t be on call. Don’t check your email. Shoot- leave your phone at home. Bring a Bible. Connect with Jesus. Reconnect with family.
Don’t over-plan it…or you’ll come back from vacation needing a vacation! Focus on being restored and renewed. Go slow…you’ll be better for it.
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The bottom line is this: We all need a plan to find the restoration and renewal that Jesus offers us. Like the saying goes, “If we are failing to plan then we are planning to fail.” I suspect that’s one reason why, as a culture, we’re in the state we are.
On the other hand…if we’ll implement a solid plan that allows to disconnect daily, weekly, quarterly and annually…I really do believe we’ll all be better off for it. And the end result is we’ll be able to go further and faster than we did before- because that’s just what can happen when you operating on a full tank instead of running on empty.