What To Do if You’re Feeling Burned Out

Recently, I took some time away for a personal spiritual retreat. I wasn’t feeling burned out, but more spiritually depleted. I’ve done this a few times over the last decade, but this one was much more fruitful, primarily because I was prepared for how to use the time.
 
I’ve learned that most people don’t lack the awareness that they’re running low. They lack a clear way to return to God and be renewed.
 
It’s easy to keep moving, keep grinding, and settle for a kind of rest that doesn’t reach the soul. Over time, that creates drift. Intentional time away can anchor you in Jesus and give you direction.
 
The purpose of a personal spiritual retreat is to unplug from your normal responsibilities to simply rest. Physical rest is good for the body, but finding rest in His presence is essential for refilling your soul.
 
If you’re interested in taking this step, set aside some uninterrupted time and use this framework and these questions to guide your time. (Hat tip to Keith Yoder for sharing a version of this with me.)
 
1. Look Back
• What aspects of my life are challenging right now?
• What aspects of my life are fulfilling right now?
 
I made a list of my answers for both questions and discovered that most of the fulfilling things in my life are also challenging. This helped me name what was really going on instead of carrying a general sense of weight.
 
This also sharpened my understanding of where my priorities have been and prepared me for the next step.
 
2. Look Up
• What characteristic of God do I need to abide in and trust?
• How is Jesus magnified in my character and in my work?
 
The first question can be reframed as, “Be still and know ____________ about God.”
 
As I meditated on how to fill in that blank, the Lord showed me very clearly which characteristic of God I need to grow in a deeper way by highlighting a few scriptures.
 
As I answered the second question, it became clear that the same characteristic of God is meant to be seen in my character and in my work. This is where renewal begins.
 
This step guards you from evaluating life on your own terms. You are reconnecting with the One who made you and letting Him shape you.
 
3. Look Ahead
• What priorities does the Lord have for me right now?
• What commitments is the Lord prompting me to make?
 
This includes making any adjustments to current priorities. My natural tendency is to quickly examine and offer my opinion on what my priorities should be. Who cares what I think I should do? What is the Lord asking me to do?
 
Sitting quietly and listening for Him to prompt priorities and commitments brought clarity I would have missed otherwise.
 
His direction begins to replace the sense of being pulled in too many directions.
 
Not all of us have the freedom to rearrange everything in our lives because of job and family commitments. In the areas where you do have freedom, take the time to ask the Lord to clarify what adjustments can be made.  
 
Before you get burned out, plan some time away and walk through these questions. If this is your first time, plan for about 2-3 hours of uninterrupted time. See how the Lord meets you to refresh your spirit, soul, and body.