Burnout can happen to anyone, including children. It is a common problem in our world today. Likewise, feelings of loneliness and isolation exist at an alarming rate. What is the solution? How do we help our children get the help they need? My latest book will be released on May 1 which can help. Burnout Fit In is another tale of the potter and his vessels. In the previous books: The Litte Pot, The Tea Pot, and The Oil Lamp, I illustrate how our creator has a specific plan and purpose for us. We are created to grow fruit, serve others, and shine. The books are explained in more detail here. In the latest book, we learn what happens to Oil Lamp once it is elevated and placed above the others. After the potter gives it a high position where it can shine and oversee, it feels lonely and begins to run out of oil. Consequently, the oil lamp is facing burnout.

Read more: Burnout, Loneliness, and our Need for the Holy Spirit

Simultaneously, in the back corner of the workshop sits another clay creation. This little vessel is a small, damaged jar that does not fit in. The other pieces of pottery only know it exists once the potter pulls it from the ashes and uses its flaw to replenish the oil lamp with oil. While the oil lamp believes it should help the jar, it discovers that the wounded container can help it. Additionally, the pot’s design allows it to fit into the rim of the oil lamp. Together the vessels serve the potter and overcome their depression.

Metaphors in the story

Through metaphors, the Bible explains difficult concepts. Metaphors allow us to gain a deeper understanding of God. Therefore, I’ve chosen characters to illustrate significant metaphors within the Bible. Here are a few of the metaphors presented in these stories.

• God is a potter and we are His vessels (Isaiah 64:8).
• We produce fruit. ( Galatians 5:22-23, Luke 3:8-9, 6:43, Matthew 3:10, 7:16-20, James 3:17-18, Colossians 1:10, Philippians 1:11, John 15:5)
• God washes our sins away (Isaiah 1:18, Acts 22:16, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:2, Titus 3:5)
• Jesus is the light of the world and darkness is sin (John 3:19, 8:12, 9:5, 1 John 1:5-6).
• We are to shine Christ’s light. (Isaiah 60:1, Psalm 76:4 Daniel 12:3, Matthew 5:14-16, 2 Corinthians 4:6, Ephesians 5:8, 1 Peter 2:9)
• Oil and anointing represent the Holy Spirit and His power (Luke 4:18, Acts 10:38)

What is burnout?

The world defines burnout as a state of mental, physical, or emotional exhaustion. Anyone can experience burnout if they are overwhelmed by fatigue, lack of motivation, and increased irritability. The internet describes the causes of burnout to be a lack of adequate social support and taking on too many tasks without personal care.

Therefore, using the metaphors and description above, we know it is difficult to shine and produce the fruit of the Spirit during burnout. Additionally, we know that we need more of God’s Spirit to grow fruit and continually shine His light. Without the Holy Spirit, burnout can even lead to sin.

When God gives us an important position.

Unfortunately, you do not have to look hard to find Christian leaders who have felt this way. For example, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill tells the story of an abusive superstar pastor who left many Christians questioning their faith. Likewise, an alarming number of pastors have been charged with abusing children. Additionally, Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News reported that 380 Christian leaders in Southern Baptist Churches faced allegations of sexual misconduct—over 700 victims between 1998 to 2019. Catholic churches were not any better.

I experienced a similar crisis when my pastor of twenty-five years resigned after confessing to an affair and inappropriate conduct. That experience and recent events in the news told me that our Christian institutions have elevated leaders to positions where they faced burnout. I am not excusing any of their behaviors. However, we can agree that they were not walking in the power of the Holy Spirit.

In the story, the potter places the oil lamp on a pedestal. Likewise, God may call us to high and important positions. Unconsciously, we begin to feel that because God placed us in this role we are more important than others and are therefore, unable to mingle and get help from others beneath us. Just as the oil lamp begins to run out of oil as it sits on the pedestal, our positions and workloads do not allow us to refill ourselves with the power of the Holy Spirit.

When God does not seem to be using us.

There have also been times in my life when I felt too damaged, forgotten, and useless to be used by God. I’ve been in a crowd of people and felt as though I just didn’t fit in. I bet you’ve felt that way at times too. That is where the second character in the book comes in. This vessel is a cracked jar sitting among the ashes. The reader discovers that it is designed to fit in the opening of the oil lamp. Additionally, through this vessel’s crack, the potter replenishes the lamp’s oil. Likewise, our wounds are sometimes the very thing that filters the right amount of the Holy Spirit into others’ lives.

Preorder the book and join the launch team

Now that you know about the new book, Burnout Fit In, I want to invite you to join the launch team. You just need to preorder the book and submit this form.

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By Dawn Stephens