Four Ways to Prevent Spiritual Burnout

Many Christians have a vibrant relationship with the Lord. However, some Christians would admit they are doing little more than going through the motions of their faith. They go to church, attend Bible study, read the Word, and pray. But often they are not hearing from God, or they don’t feel they have a vibrant relationship with Him.

When people merely go through the motions of the faith, this gives the enemy an opportunity to whisper lies into their hearts that, when unchecked, can lead to falling away from the faith or spiritual burnout.

Spiritual burnout does not come from doing too many things or being too involved in the local church. Rather, spiritual burnout occurs when someone is doing things for God, but they are not interacting with God. But there is hope. God desires for each person to have an intimate relationship with Him.

Four ways to prevent spiritual burnout

Here are four ways to prevent spiritual burnout:

1. Practice spiritual disciplines

Although the word discipline can be scary for some people, it doesn’t have to be. Disciplines are merely exercises that are done on a routine basis. These exercises become habits. Good spiritual habits are the key to preventing spiritual burnout.

But this also means that the habits can’t be done simply to check items off a list and make room for other important tasks throughout the day. A person who takes their spiritual life seriously will want to have good healthy habits that when done for a long time will help them grow spiritually.

Many people throughout the Bible are good examples of practicing spiritual disciplines. Daniel prayed three times a day. He also practiced fasting. Many people in the Bible connected with God through reading and writing what He told them to. Jesus was a good example of the importance of scripture memorization. He used the scripture to overcome Satan’s temptation. Elijah heard the still small voice of God when he got alone and listened for His voice.

Try a new spiritual discipline you’ve not tried before. For example, if you are in good health, try fasting once a week. This can include the time you sleep so if it’s a twenty-four-hour fast, count the 8 hours that you’re sleeping. Eat dinner the night before, then fast until dinner the next day. Although practicing a new discipline won’t be easy, if you stick with it, you will find you are closer to God than ever before.

Seek God during silence and solitude. Set a timer and get into a quiet place in your home or outside in nature. Gather your thoughts and ask God to speak to you as you study His Word. As you seek Him, He will make Himself known to you. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit teaching you through the Word will help you grow in your relationship with God and avoid spiritual burnout.

2.  Meet with others

COVID got people into the bad habit of walking through their spiritual lives alone. Some people still have not returned to regular church attendance since COVID. They watch online and are not anchored to a local church body. Hebrews 10:25 is clear: “Do not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

God wants us to worship with others in regular church attendance. A person who sits and watches a sermon alone will never reap the full emotional and spiritual benefits of being in person with other people. It’s uplifting to listen as everyone around you sings the same songs in unison. It is also important to listen to a person’s teaching of Scripture so that you may apply it to your daily life.

A person is in sin if they know the Word but do not apply it to their lives. Additionally, it can be beneficial to be in a small-group-type setting. It is difficult to achieve the trust and intimacy you need with others in a large sanctuary on a Sunday morning. Small group connection is vital to becoming spiritually healthy.

As you meet with the same people week after week, you will build trust and intimacy as you share your prayer requests and how you’re doing. Being able to share your struggles with someone who is there to encourage you and pray for you is a great way to prevent spiritual burnout. This will also help you create healthy relationships and serve one another as not only are they praying for you, but you’re also praying for them.

3. Forgive

Sometimes spiritual burnout occurs not because people are doing too much within the local church, but because of being hurt by people in the church. As much as people would like others to believe, there is no perfect person.

Sometimes people emphasize a person’s involvement in a church body as proof that they are holier than someone else. Therefore, the expectations are that that person will always do the right thing. However, as sinners, people will always fall into sin. They will say and do things that are not godly.

It is important to forgive and move on from church hurt. Even if a toxic church situation requires you to leave the church and find another one, be sure to anchor yourself to a local church body. The community that you will miss by being alone on your spiritual journey will increase the chances of experiencing spiritual burnout.

Regardless of whether you are in a church body or not, take a spiritual inventory and see if there’s anyone whom you need to forgive. Jesus is clear that forgiveness is commanded throughout Scripture. We are commanded to forgive even if the person is not sorry or even if they have done the same thing over again.

4. Memorize Scripture

Spiritual burnout can also occur when a person is experiencing several trials or compares themselves with others. It is easy given social media and other avenues where we compare ourselves to others. This can cause us to resent God and feel as though He does not care or does not love us as much as He does someone else.

These lies lead to spiritual burnout and cause us not to grow or even to leave the faith altogether. When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He had His connection to the Father and His Word. If Jesus used Scripture against Satan when He was tempted, we can also use Scripture that we have learned when we encounter trials. Memorizing one Scripture a week would give you 52 verses hidden in your heart in a year.

When trials or temptations come (as they always do) meditate on a Scripture that is appropriate. Sometimes the verses can be your favorite Scripture. Other times there are Scriptures that God is speaking to you as you’re studying the Word. Write the verses on an index card and stick them in places to be reminded of them all day. Allow the Word of God to run continually through your mind and transform your heart.

Spiritual burnout can be a difficult situation to remedy if a person does not identify it. Keep your spiritual life renewed and strong by listening for God’s voice, practicing spiritual disciplines, meeting together with others, forgiving those who have wronged you, and memorizing Scripture.

By observing these practices, you will decrease the chances of experiencing spiritual burnout. If this article has encouraged you to seek further help from a Christian counselor to grow in your love for God, reach out and schedule an appointment today.