Burnout: Resting in God's Fairness

The Gospel for Real Life #4

by Brad C. Hambrick

Burnout occurs when the things that once gave us life and energy become discouraging and draining instead, sacrificing our pleasures and accomplishments to the continual onslaught of “next.” While a common danger for Christians who dedicate their efforts to God’s kingdom, burnout eventually makes us choose cynical numbness over the “caring exhaustion” of Christian service. How do we avoid this pitfall? Brad Hambrick argues that burnout is actually a consequence of our life management, and he shows us how to create a time budget to avoid living beyond our means with the time God has provided. He helps us remember to rest in God’s fairness rather than trying to gain his acceptance.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction

40 pages, Paperback

First published March 13, 2013

Reviews

[Hannah Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re teetering on the brink of burnout amidst a busy life, this was a short and encouraging read. Hambrick covers the questions of what is burnout, what causes it, how to prevent it, and the gospel solution.

“You can engage your labor with a restful demeanor, because you serve under the care of a loving Father who is fair in his expectations and has guaranteed his desired outcome with the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. Work, rest, and play with the confident hope that the resurrection purchased.”

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very brief, but needed wake-up call for vocational ministers

This is a booklet, but it is to the point and pointed. The author spends more time discussing the need of a time-budget and how to go about preventing burnout than he does citing Scriptural proof for his approach. However, the Scriptures chosen do apply, and I think the booklet accomplished it’s purpose.

This is not a Scriptural exposition, but a practical assessment tool based upon Scripture. I believe the subject of burnout is a very real problem in full time ministry. As a pastor/church planter, wanting to help, encourage, and care for others is my calling, and sometimes it can get out of balance.

One of my favorite quotes from the book - “‘Caring’ is a fire that burns, and burning fires require fuel.” While this short booklet does not address every possible cause for the lack of fuel that causes burnout, it does address the idea of trying to make your fuel do too much, thus overextending and leading to burnout.

All in all it was a good concise booklet that I would recommend to anyone in the ministry.

[Nicolas Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I plan on reading it again. Hambrick wastes no time in explaining clearly and biblically what burnout is, how it happens, and how to avoid it. I will apply these ideas and suggestions.

[Dana]

to say I’ve ‘read’ this conveys a sense of completion… but this book is one that i need to be readING for the long haul.

[Reid Echelmeier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A succinct book that gives both gospel motivations and practical recommendations.

[Leanne Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like sitting down with a counsellor helping you to understand your own thinking.

[Jenna Demonbreun · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Just as the new covenant fulfills the old, it also serves as a picture of what a healthy life without burnout looks like. The old activities are liberated from their futility and slavish demands by the finished work of Christ on the cross.”

This little book was needed as I am someone who has recently experienced a boat load of new responsibilities. Very good. Highly recommend especially for those who work in ministry.

[Leandro Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very concise and practical book on avoiding and fixing burnout, but with a fundamental gospel outlook.

[John M. Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burnout: Resting in God’s Fairness

I appreciate the approach of the author to the subject of burnout by his use of three questions for the title of each of his three chapters. What was especially effective was his providing practical exercises. The worksheet on how to setup one’s weekly activities based on the total number of hours one is given to live within is a big bonus. The author then breaks down the different areas of a person’s life using a financial budget as an example of how to build an effective workable time schedule for healthy living. The author gives good advice about how to avoid burnout or gain a foothold on how to move one’s life forward out of burnout.

[Jason Skeffington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Self-reliance is the pathway to burnout

There are many personal factors that can lead to burnout, whether self-inflicted or influenced by others. Self-reliance or trust in self rather than trust in God will lead to an emptiness of the soul that only God can fill. It is God who is enough, it is not for us to keep striving to be whatever false definition of enough we may have.

[Roger Bryan Van Pelt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not really a book, but a 40 page pamphlet designed to help the reader identify and develop steps to overcome burnout. It uses some Scriptures to point out that God doesn’t expect us to try to do more in one day than we can. He allots one day at a time. We’re called to be good stewards of that time, but not to burn ourselves out in our projects and responsibilities.

[Landon Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be my favorite "booklet" in "The Gospel for Real Life Series." Hambrick offers helpful diagnostic questions, challenging facts, and a helpful framework for gospel-oriented time-management. Really quite helpful!

[Mary Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most practically helpful books for me this year!

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Louisa]

useful reminders, rly appreciate that the guy doesn't belabour the point.

[Jessica Fitzsimmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical tips on how to avoid burnout. Loved the scriptural basis behind what the author was saying. It reminded me that everything we do is for God's glory, but the way he presented it was in such a refreshing way. It didn't seem like the same old information. The changes suggested in the book are harder said than done, but are possible with small changes implemented over time.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Overview

This mini-book is a quick overview of what burnout is, how you can prevent it, and how you can overcome it for those suffering now. It's like a short Bible study on what Scripture has to say and how God's Word has hope and practical answers for this challenge in our lives. Each point made in this booklet is followed by application steps to flesh out the Biblical principles into your life right now.

The Readability

The beauty of a mini-book is that it's short - making it simple to read within an hour or less. It's only 40 pages in length and very easy understand and digest.

The Highlights

My favorite aspect of this book is how he creates a word picture by relating our time to the idea of spending money. With this picture in my minds eye I easily grasped the concepts he shares.

The Downside

The one downside I saw was that there was only one little section on what burnout is. While there were lots of teaching and practical aids, I would have liked to read more about what causes and what happens in burnout cases.

The Recommendation

I recommend this book for people wanting to avoid or overcome burnout. It nicely compliments and goes hand-in-hand with Burned Out?, the mini-book by CCEF. This is a great resource for counselors,for small group leaders, and for anyone in general.

* * *

I received a courtesy copy from P&R Publishing for review purposes only, but the opinion expressed is my own.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much more helpful than I originally thought it'd be. It contains good, practical gospel advice on why (and how) to avoid burnout. I especially appreciated the part that talked about making a "time budget," and used this tool for helping re-orient some things in my life. Great little book!

[Mollie Bond]

This was so good I read it twice back to back.