For many people, getting burnt out is something they deal with more often than they like. You can feel burnt out for many reasons. Some people feel they’re much in need of a recharge after juggling different aspects of their lives from work, home, or maybe school. Others can feel emotionally and physically drained from multiple challenging events that took a huge mental toll. So how do we deal with life when we feel completely depleted and how can we recharge when we feel burnt out?
How To Recharge When You Feel Burnt Out
Sometimes, life can come at us and throw a curveball that wipes us out. It can be because of family problems, major changes at work, or drama among your social groups. It could be having to deal with situations that you never wanted to be a part of, to begin with, and yet you were left without much choice except to face them. Meanwhile, others like me can push themselves for too long because of the constant need to feel fulfilled and useful.
No matter the reason and what brought us there, we can feel left with a sense of exhaustion. You feel like you may be at the end of your rope except to crash and burn. So how can we find rest and solace? How can we recharge to get back on our feet and face the world? What can we learn from the Word?
Practice A Day of Rest
When you feel drained, sometimes it can be to a point where you feel like resting itself is work. A day of rest can look different for different people. For parents, it may even seem impossible. However, it is crucial to be able to give yourself the rest you need. If there is something I personally struggle with is taking a day of rest in the week. Again, it is due to my nature of constantly feeling the need to be useful and spend my time “wisely”. However, we see that even our Creator rested from His work.
And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. - Genesis 2:2-3 (ESV)
We may know of God’s creation story but many of us can overlook this easily. We need to step back and meditate on this concept. Our heavenly Father, who is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-present took rest. God knew and saw what was coming in the history of time. He knew and saw the struggles that we will be facing. However, He made it a point to rest. God is not a feeble human that needed the rest, He is not so weak to keep working if He wanted to.
However, He chose to rest. He then blessed it and made it holy because he rested from all his work. What God does is never by accident, it is always intentional. So we need to learn from our heavenly Father, who despite all that He could do, showed us what we should do. So let us be obedient and take a rest.
So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. - Hebrews 4:9-11 (ESV)
Take In Grace
As much as we give others grace, many of us can be stingy when it comes to receiving grace for ourselves. We can be so giving of others at the expense of ourselves. However, it is just as important to allow yourself to receive the grace that is freely given to you. How can we do this? By reminding yourself of the truth that you mean so much to God. Just as God loves others, He loves you and wants to give you rest for your soul. How can you be so hard on the one that God loves? How can you mistreat and overwork whom God says is His beloved?
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. - Jeremiah 31:3 (NIV)
And while God gave us the resilience to be able to handle whatever challenge that He allows us to go through, His Grace is sufficient. When we feel weak, depleted, and drained, His power is perfect.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
When we meditate on these words and take in that Grace, we will find that it is sufficient. God’s grace does recharge us. But we sometimes forget and that is why we need to be reminded. We are reminded through reading His words and meditating on them. The truth is, we have received grace. And on top of that, we received more grace. Even when we run empty, God is still full and out of His fullness, He freely gives us that grace. So to recharge when you feel burnt out, take it in, meditate, and live in it.
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. - John 1:16 (NIV)
Go To The One Who Will Give You Rest
Jesus knows that we will have burdens, we will be tired, and we will need rest. He even told us that in this world, we will have trouble in John 16:33. But that is why He says to come to Him.
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV)
What’s more, God tells us not to be anxious not because there is no reason to be anxious. Because He wants to give you peace despite every reason to be anxious. So whatever anxiety that is in the way of us being able to recharge, there is a solution.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
No matter how drained or negative we feel, we need to go and ask God humbly while also giving our thanks. And God’s peace, which surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. The peace that God gives is a healing balm that revives us, reassures us, and recharges us. Try it, it will truly surpass your own understanding. And we can take pointers from David, who found that rest. So go to Him to recharge when you feel burnt out.
Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him. - Psalm 62:1
Let Us Pray
Heavenly Father, you know my needs right now. You know that I’m just tired and in need of rest. I sometimes don’t even know where to start and I feel too burdened to even figure it out. But I come to you, knowing all questions and answers are with you. I give you all that I am and all of my baggage. Help me in my prayer life and to be able to give you thanks at all times. Give me your yoke and your peace that surpasses all understanding. I receive your Grace. In Jesus’s name.
Recommendation
Knowing God starts with knowing His Word. If you don’t already own a Bible, there are many churches that give one for free. You can also download a YouVersion Bible App. Or if you’d like a physical copy, it can easily be found on amazon.