Walter was a daydreamer. A fictional character in James Thurber‘s short story "The Se­cret Life of Walter Mitty", Wal­ter is a meek, mild man with a vivid fantasy life: he imagines himself a wartime pilot, an emergency room surgeon, and more. But even in his heroic day­dreams, Mitty does not triumph, proven by the shocking realiza­tion that he is dozing off when he gets "interrupted" at work.

While entertaining, many as­pects of Walter's fantasies ring true in our desire to escape the rigors of daily life. How darkly ironic then, is his final fantasy, which finds Walter dying bravely in front of a firing squad.

Back to Real Life

Okay – you're likely asking, "How on EARTH does the story of Walter Mitty relate to my ministry?" Maybe it doesn't, if you're one of those rare, self-assured people who know exactly where they're supposed to be, what they are to be doing, and head home each night (on time) rejoicing, "Thank you, Lord! I did a really great job today!"

More likely, the vast majority of us struggle with uncertainties in the demands of each day.  We multitask to the equivalent of living many separate lives – and too often end our time feeling like we’ve stepped in front of the firing squad. 

The prolife movement is undergo­ing a tremendous leadership turn­over, and many report simply "hanging in there" while fighting a growing dissatisfaction. Several are wondering if their "time of service is over." In a re­cent sampling of 20 pregnancy medical clinics, 50% of the Execu­tive Directors had left – most under some type of duress. While transition can be a normal proc­ess, honesty requires us to dig deeper and confront the dreaded word that should invoke a healthy caution in the strongest of leaders: BURNOUT.

Burnout?

Can God’s people burn out if they are true servants? Even the most mature followers can find them­selves spent from the battle. A great reminder is the story of Elijah, a spiritual giant who – exhausted after the showdown with the false prophets of Baal – ran in whining fear due to mere threats from evil Queen Jezebel. How do we recognize the possible symptoms before it's too late? Are you concerned about burning out? If you're even asking if the "B" word applies to you, chances are that you may be closer than you think.

Feelings of frustration are nor­mal, but when they become the norm, it is time to confront our hard questions: Is it time for me to move on? If so, to where? Who will take my place? I have so much invested in this minis­try, how can I leave it all behind? How can I stand to stay one more day? How do I figure this all out? Who has the time? Sometimes taking a personal in­ventory is a good place to start.

Symptoms

Do you:

§          Feel overwhelmed by parts of your job that used to excite you?

§          Struggle to prioritize your time?

§          Feel misunderstood by oth­ers?

§          Increasingly doubt yourself?

§          Grow progressively frustrated by unresolved conflict within the ministry?

§          Feel conflict even when there is no apparent reason?

§          Believe your emotional mar­gin is smaller than it used to be?

§          Question if you are in the right position?

§          Find yourself thinking of leaving, but stop short be­cause you need the money?

§          Fantasize, "Maybe I’m being called to a beach ministry!"

If you don't like your answers to the above, it's time to dig deeper. Here are a few suggestions to help you start:

Don't react. Our feelings cannot always be trusted.  Christians shouldn't make snap judgments when feel­ing hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (H.A.L.T.). Sometimes the need for short term relief can over­whelm our true desire to be obedi­ent and longsuffering.

Take a sabbatical. (And ask your board that it be paid time off!). Emotions are often exaggerated when we are exhausted.   Rest and spend designated time with the Lord in order to gain a fresh per­spective.

Be willing to undertake a brutally honest process with God.  He can be trusted and will reveal Himself if we seek Him with an open mind and heart committed to His will. When we truly bow before Him, He brings order to our confusion.

Find a resource that can give your journey encouragement. I recom­mend Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybels and Bruce Wilkinson‘s The Dream Giver.

Pray about a trusted guide. God may bring an individual who can provide a balance of support and challenge during this time. However, a caution: don't let a person or a plan take precedent over your time of truly seeking the Lord. Sometimes He intentionally isolates us so we'll do the hard work with only Him.

Explore if your particular strengths and giftings are still aligned with the needs of the min­istry. Sometimes the job or we can outgrow one another.

Be committed to facing the truth about yourself – both internally and externally. A basic evangelism question is a great life plumb line: If what you believe isn't the truth, would you want to know? If we can't answer with a resound­ing YES!, it's clear that our need for security has outgrown our honesty – and maybe even our faith. Hedge against falseness.

Internally – ask the Lord to help you dig deep within yourself with abandon.

Externally – ask others you trust for insight.  Pray and work toward a teachable spirit; be willing to receive input, even when you aren't asking. Like King David, we all need "Nathans."  The Johari Window (in the box below) is a simple but enlightening matrix.

Ask the Lord for increased faith. Are you confident that God will take care of you even if He does not reveal specific next steps? We typically expect Him to close one door and immediately open the next. But sometimes He with­holds an answer because he wants our faith in Him to grow. We too often seek what the Lord will do, rather than who He is.

Sometimes the journey really is as important as the destination. For those of us who are high achiev­ers, this is a vital reminder and may need intentional focus. The very times we hit the depths of discouragement, exhaustion and uncertainty are often when we are the most open to what the Lord has to show us – about Himself and about ourselves. 

Burning out is neither God's best nor inevitable if we will do our spiritual and practical due diligence. Tak­ing the time to get rest, be refreshed and gain a re­newed vision for yourself and your ministry is an im­portant investment. Instead of running away to that beach ministry, maybe it's simply high time for some of us to take a cruise!

Kim Conroy is a consultant for Focus on the Family's Sanctity of Human Life Division and the President of S.M.A.R.T. Outcomes in Joplin, MO, specializing in helping prolife organizations assess their mission and ministry results. Kim can be reached at kim.conroy@smartoutcomes.org.

Reprinted with permission from Cup of Coffee, a LifeTrends publication.  For more information about the resources provided by LifeTrends contact Kirk Walden at kirk.walden@comcast.net