How do you cope when burned out? Withdraw? Control? Anger? Anxiety?
At times of extreme burnout I become “Sargent Melanie” and it is not very pleasant. It’s often a fruitless grappling at control and nobody is happy when this mode gets activated (me included). Thank God, He’s teaching me to rely more on His Spirit and less on my very ineffective “Sargent” mode.
What about you? What’s your mode you default to when stressed or burnt out? Regardless of how we cope, one thing we have the same as children of God is: gentleness is truly at the root of who we are. Whether it is buried under a deep forest of problems, or thorny briar situations—We have this character, the gentleness of our God, ingrained in each one of us.
There are many passages in the Bible that talk about gentleness and compassion in regards to Jesus:
And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed the sick.
Matthew 14:14
Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Mark 1:41
And Jesus saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.
Mark 6:34
God has always been full of compassion and nothing has changed.
Jesus says the same yesterday today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
He was compassionate then and He is compassionate now.
There are those who use this character trait of God’s to try to take advantage of Him. “Oh, because He’s so kind and compassionate, I don’t need to serve or I don’t need to change my life” they may think or say. No, the opposite is true. The goodness of God leads people to repentance (Romans 12:4). His gentleness leads them in a deeper walk with Him.
When we truly experience His gentleness and goodness, we crave more and more. And when we crave for more and more, we spend time with Him more and more. And when we spend time with Him more and more, we’re transformed. And when we’re transformed, we are changed into the likeness of our Savior.
It’s a process that many have abandoned or forgotten– “what we behold is what we become”. Who we spend time with is who will be like! What we focus on will become a major source of our life.
The enemy’s plan is to distract the Christians of this age until Jesus’ coming. They may not be deep and dark distractions (although those do occur as well) but these distractions are more of a general low hum of distraction. He’s tricky and is trying to distract followers of Christ from the gentleness of God which leads to repentance and transformation in our lives. To absorb, understand and delight in God’s gentleness takes quietness, peace and rest, and ample time in His presence. This, my friends, will take prioritizing.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and everything else will be added to you as well.
Matthew 6:33
For where your treasure is there your heart is also.
Matthew 6:21
It’s time for us, as followers of Christ, to push away distraction and prioritize the Kingdom. It is in this prioritizing of Jesus and His gentle love towards us that we find transformation for our lives.
Have you found the gentle love of Jesus? Have you accepted it? Have you allowed it to transform and change your life? Have you allowed it to rock your world and turn everything right side up?
Oh friend, how He wants to touch and change our lives so we are living the Christ-following life, the “good life”. It’s the life full of the gentleness of Jesus as the root of all we do, of all we are. Would you allow Him to touch your life today? All you need to do is whisper your “yes” and the door is open for Him to come in (https://agapelife.org/next-steps/)
God calls us and leads us by His Holy Spirit. His gentle Holy Spirit leads us further into the gentle love of Christ where we experience His love. This love transforms and changes us and we become like Him.
Before we finish, would you let me pray for you?
God, I lift up my friends in Christ today. May you encourage them and fill them with your love and gentleness this week. May they begin to know, like Ephesians 3 says, “How wide and deep and long and high is your love”, God. May you speak to them by your gentle Holy Spirit and show them your path to living a gentle life. I ask that you would help them break out of burnout mode and ways they used to cope and instead lead them in your gentleness that transforms their lives as they prioritize you. May they behold you and become like you this week. I ask these things in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
So friend, I bless you as you begin to live the gentle life. Live gently, not of your own strength or determination– but as you link arms with the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill your life with God’s love.
Until next time,
P.S. Read more about “The Love That Was There All Along”: https://melanietalevski.com/2022/06/18/the-love-that-was-there-all-along/
or “The Night Love Lit the Sky”:
https://melanietalevski.com/2021/12/24/the-night-love-lit-the-sky/
Also, you can access all of my other encouraging blog posts anytime at https://melanietalevski.com/blog-2/
Let them speak to your heart today!
Melanie Talevski 