A key antibody that resists the toxic atmosphere in which we must live is the maintenance of a sense of purpose in your life. We all go through difficult moments in our lives. Those who remain vital even in times of exhaustion are those who remember why they are there. A key element in burnout is the loss of that sense of purpose.
It is one thing to be exhausted by the demands of your life. It is quite another to feel that the work you are doing is without purpose and meaning. If you believe that God has called you to ministry in this situation, however demanding and frustrating, then it is worthwhile. What gives life dignity and purpose is that sense of call by the God of the universe. We want to be able to say with Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim 4:7)
Far too often we allow the buildup of complaints, defeats, and seeming failures to distance us from that ennobling experience of sensing God’s call in our life. To paraphrase Victor Frankl , Give a person a “why” and s/he can endure almost any obstacle but take away that “why” and almost any obstacle is too daunting.
So, as a beginning, sit down and try to recall that early sense of call that drew you into the ministry. Write it down. Then share it with a trusted friend or spiritual adviser. Then, with that original sense of call in mind, now look at your current situation, assume that God has called you to this situation, and try to give expression to what God might have in mind for you. As you do this, keep in mind some of the challenges and resistance that Jesus and later Paul and other church leaders experienced in their ministry. There was a purpose, a sense of why, that drew them forward. The stronger you can give expression to that sense of call, the more you will be able to transcend any temptation to despair.
