Genesis 2:1-3 “The Seventh Day (Exodus 16:22-35; Hebrews 4:1-11) Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. And by the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing; so on that day He rested from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day He rested from all the work of creation that He had accomplished.”
“Ridiculous!” you might say. “You mean to tell me that the all-powerful Creator of the Universe needed to rest after creation? Really?” Probably not. But throughout the Bible, God continues to emphasize the need for Sabbath rest for His people. Exodus 20:8-11 says, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, on which you must not do any work—neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.”
God has ordained times and seasons for work and for rest. No matter how hard we work, there are times when we need to relax and recharge. Forcing ourselves to work continuously will lead to all kinds of stress-related illnesses including heart attacks, hypertension, diabetes, strokes, and even cancer. Those of us prone to depression may find ourselves feeling lower than a ditch digger’s boots. There are four warning signs for people who suffer from depression: HALT- Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired. When we refuse to rest, our relationships with our families and friends will suffer and we will wind up being bitter, isolated, sick, and burned out.
Burnout is a real possibility for anyone in a demanding profession and it can sneak up on you. Personally, I have burned out at least twice and have had to guard against it ever since. On the average, if you burn out, it will take nine years before you can return to the work you were doing previously. Some people who have burned out have had to redirect their lives entirely because they couldn’t resume their previous occupations. Burnout takes a massive toll on individuals and their families.
All obsessive behaviors are on a continuum and express themselves differently in different individuals; however, they have one thing in common: people get a serotonin boost from the activity. Some addictive behaviors are obviously destructive such as alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling addiction, and shopping excessively. But workaholism can be just as destructive, although it is more socially acceptable. Many workaholic doctors have lost their families because they have valued work above all else. One surgeon had to stop loading the family car to leave on vacation when the hospital called, demanding he complete all his records before leaving. The family stood as their husband and father took off for the hospital to satisfy the hospital administration; blessedly, the family was able to forgive him.
As a doctor, I have always had to guard against overworking, and sometimes it’s been really tough. For years I was the only doctor in mission hospitals in remote areas with poor transportation. If I left my station, critically ill patients might face long ambulance trips over wretched roads. Not only was transportation difficult, but the patients risked dying enroute to the next facility. But if I didn’t leave, I couldn’t get any rest and I was likely to get sick. One year I had typhoid four times because of overwork. (My husband is definitely a candidate for sainthood!) I had to realize that if I dropped dead, the work would still be there, and somebody would have to do it somehow.
There are many front-line workers who can’t take off Sundays or holidays because of their work schedules, and you might be one of these people. But take regular time off somehow! A wise counselor friend repeatedly assures me that “Self-care is a moral imperative!” On airplanes, passengers are advised to put on their oxygen masks first before helping those around them because if they run out of oxygen, they will be of no use to anybody.
If we buy a new gadget, we will gladly study the owner’s manual. Do the same thing for your body. God has ordained regular periods of rest because He knows we need them. You can’t have peace if you are exhausted. You owe it to your family, your friends, and to yourself to rest regularly. You will be a far effective worker by doing so.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to rest regularly, knowing that You will give us peace and restore our spirits as we do so. Help us to avoid burnout. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
Burunche's Blog 
Leave a comment