Reaching Maximum Capacity
Imagine this reality: the demands of ministry are growing through incredible gospel growth; your uni essays are increasing in complexity year-by-year; family life is getting busier with engagements, weddings, and other celebrations; your close friendships are growing intense, for they are hitting the stresses that flow from independence.
In the intensity, you recall the days of child-like simplicity, when you could freely play, your calendar wasn’t maxed out, and you walked slowly. You dream about a life of margin, where your spiritual tank is full. But back to reality. Life is grim. You have reached your limits, and the signs are obvious: communication breakdown.
Principle: When we hit our limits communication is often the first thing to collapse.
But there is a remedy for hitting our limits—a wisdom that enables us to both be healthy and productive for the kingdom of God. What is this wisdom?
Read Exodus 18:13-27
Here is the context: God had rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through Moses, and now Moses is single-handedly trying to lead a commonwealth of “six-hundred men, besides women and children” (Ex. 12:37-38).
From “morning to evening”, Moses had the tiresome task of solving every problem and dispute that arose (18:13). Could you imagine? The intensity of ministry was undeniable. The poor guy would have been running on fumes, living emotionally wrecked. He needed someone else to speak into his life, to save him from his broken system.
How did God save him from burnout? Through the wisdom of his father-in-law, Jethro:
First, he communicated frankly in love by stating the problem: “The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone” (18:18).
Second, he requested Moses to pay attention to his communication: “Listen now to me and I will give you some advice” (18:19a).
Third, he reminded Moses of his chief duty in his communication: “You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him” (18:19b).
Fourth, he communicated a solution to help Moses overcome burnout: “select capable men from all the people. . . and appoint them as officials” (18:21).
Fifth, he communicated how the change will be a blessing to him: “That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you” (18:22).
Sixth, he communicated that it will improve the quality of his ministry: “You will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied” (18:23).
How did God save Moses from burnout? He sent Jethro to show him a better—more sustainable—way forward. The result of the conversation is that Moses listened, leading him to being a healthier leader, more satisfying communicator in the nation's eyes, and all-round better servant of God.
If you are on the road to burnout—evidenced by your collapsing communication—perhaps, like Moses, you need to overhaul your system. What you need is a Jethro—a person who can:
see what you need;
speak frankly about your life;
remind you of your chief call;
provide you a gospel solution;
show you how the new way is better than the old way.
Jesus is your primary help. He says,
“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).
What is the point? John Mark Comer makes this helpful comment:
“The challenge of Jesus is to take up his yoke—to travel through life at his side learning from him how to shoulder the weight of life with ease. To step out of the burnout society to a life of soul rest. . . If you want to experience the life of Jesus, you have to adopt the lifestyle of Jesus.”
What is the lifestyle of Jesus? How did he resist burnout? He lived a perfectly balanced human life:
Jesus made time to grieve: “When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by a boat privately to a solitary place” (Matt. 14:13).
Jesus made prayer a priority: “While it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Jesus was consistent in rest: “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 4:16).
Jesus recognised physical limitations: “Jesus tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well” (John 4:6).
Do you desire to overcome burnout? Do you want to be a gospel communicator?
If yes, you need to overhaul your maxed out system of burnout and replace it with the life-giving way of Jesus Christ. Burnout culture is not a gospel culture—it is a rat race culture. Let Jesus minister to you. Place his restful yoke upon your shoulders. Let him speak into your life daily. Let him guide you to high mountains, restful meadows, and ocean trips—to teach you how to stop. Adopt a weekly rhythm where you can rest, pray, heal, and repeat.
Resist maximum capacity by learning to rest with Jesus.