The 911 Handbook
Study Guide Answers
Lesson 10/Chapter 10
When You Feel Like Quitting: Preventing Burnout
Answers are written in italics
Read Galatians 6:9
Burnout is a modern-day term for "growing weary." What is the primary cause for burnout?
Burnout occurs when we give out more than we take in. We go from giving out to giving up.
Burnout is a process that happens over a period of time. Here are the four stages of the Burnout process:
Stage #1: We become disillusioned.
What causes us to become disillusioned?
We become disillusioned when the picture in our minds of the way things ought to be doesn't match the way the things really are. The ideal mental picture is shattered by the reality of the situation.
Give some examples (marriage, job, etc.) how someone can get disillusioned.
Many people have unrealistic pictures in their minds of a perfect marriage. Overdue bills, dirty diapers, arguments with the spouse, and flat tires aren't a part of that picture. Rather than becoming disillusioned, the picture needs to be enlarged to bring in the difficulties that exist in every marriage. There is no problem-free spouse, church, job, or place to live, so the picture needs readjusting to fit these situations.
Stage #2: We become discouraged.
What does it mean to "lose heart"?
It means we have lost our motivation to continue. Our hearts are no longer "in" what we are doing.
Why is it important to not lose heart?
In order to be successful, we must keep our hearts in what we are doing. If we lose heart, whatever we are doing will become a duty rather than a pleasure.
Fill in the blanks and briefly what the consequences will be if we quit.
Don't lose heart in _prayer__ (Luke 18:1) our prayers won't be answered
Don't lose heart in _ministry_ (2 Cor. 4:1) we stop being effective in helping others
Don't lose heart in _doing good_ (Gal. 6:9) we will miss reaping the harvest
Don't lose heart in difficulties (Heb. 12:3)we grow weary and get depressed
Stage #3: We become discontented.
What are some signs that we have become discontented?
We lose our joy, becoming restless and irritable. We will everything in our power to run from our difficult situation.
Why does discontentment disrespect God's will?
We become so consumed with quitting that we never consider whether or not it is God's will for us to quit.
How does discontentment distort our view of life?
It causes us to see everything in a negative light, so we can't see anything good in our present situation. Discontentment always sees more negatives than positives.
Stage #4: We become disassociated.
Once we decide to quit, we forfeit the reward of the harvest. What is the great tragedy of quitting?
All the work we have done in plowing, sowing, and watering is nullified. Quitting forfeits the harvest when it might be just within our reach.
How to Prevent Burn-Out
First, Rest from your labor.
Read Ex. 20:9-10
Why did God command us to rest one day a week from our labors?
God knew we would burn out if we didn't take some rest once a week. He designed us to both work and rest.
Second, Reduce your workload.
What is the first thing we must do to reduce our workloads?
We must list our priorities by re-evaluating everything we are doing. Then we must pull the unnecessary irons out of the fire, which will give us more time and energy to do what is important.
Third, Regulate your schedule.
What does it mean to "live one day at a time"?
It means to fix our attention on today's responsibilities. God wants us to carry today's load today and tomorrow's load tomorrow. Life is a cinch by the inch but hard by the yard.
What happens to us if we become pre-occupied with the burdens of tomorrow?
We become burdened down because we are carrying two days instead of one. We will begin to worry, get stressed-out, become depressed, and lose our joy.
Fourth, Refuel your spirit.
When we burn out, we have been trying to live the Christian life in the strength of the flesh rather than the power of the Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit refuels our spiritually empty gas tanks.
According to Ephesians 5:18-19, what will happen to our hearts after we are filled with the Holy Spirit?
We will sing and make melody in our hearts to the Lord. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, our hearts will sing. A heart that is out of tune with God will sing sour notes.
According to Ephesians 5:20, what else will we do?
We will become thankful for everything, rather than complaining.
Have the group share how being filled with the Holy Spirit gave them new power. If someone wants to be filled, pray with him or her to receive it by faith.
Make sure the discussion is encouraging and doesn't turn into doctrinal quarreling. The Holy Spirit is a person who wants to help us (John 14:26), not a doctrine to fight about. You can lead in a prayer like this: "Heavenly Father, I surrender my will to you right now and I ask you to fill me with the Holy Spirit. Thank you. I receive it by faith. In Jesus' name, Amen."
Fifth, Renew your vision.
Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Give a definition of "vision."
It is our heart's ability to see down life's road. Vision gives us direction in life, even if at times it may be only a few steps.
Why is having vision important?
It motivates us out of inspiration rather than desperation.
How can we regain vision?
By seeking God's face and walking by faith. If we honestly ask God to reveal his will to us, he promises to give us vision and lead us.