“When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way…” (Psalm 142:3, NIV).

It was a rough week. It began Sunday when I drove in for quick rounds before church and found one of my patients in severe distress—three hours, hard decisions, tough conversations, uncertainty over my past medical care, patient headed for death—finally catching the tail end of a sermon that flew past me without benefit. The week went downhill from there with huge patient work pressures, two funerals, a dear friend’s son in a coma, administrative overload, lack of personal engagement, inability to sleep for three nights, the fourth with a sleep aid. I began to breathe on Friday.

We talk about burnout, and I would love to place that label on my week, but I know that would be unfair to those who have suffered such a difficult illness. Mayo Clinic defines burnout with three components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and a reduced sense of personal effectiveness. I felt all of those, but there must be at least two other components for me to label it burnout: an extended duration of symptoms and a persistent inability to complete God’s purpose for me in healthcare, home and kingdom life. I have dear friends who have clearly experienced all of these and with help have overcome them.

However, that’s not what most of life is. I remember when I spoke of suffering to a group of Christian singles in the winter mountains of Colorado. When I paused for a moment, a young man from Syria raised his hand and stated, “What you people call suffering, in Syria we call life.”

Last week was incredibly difficult emotionally, but it let up. Other people might have called my symptoms burnout, but in this case, I should call it life. Jesus promised us we would experience times of distress like this, sometimes even worse (John 16:33). As Christians, we must be able to weather such storms and continue to be effective while the rain is pouring.

I can’t advise you how to recover from burnout (CMDA has excellent resources through its CMDA Coaching ministry), but I can share with you how I deal with life when it becomes temporarily overwhelming, like my past week.

1. Be patient. A sign I have in my front hall is usually true: “Every storm runs out of rain.”
2. Persist in my daily time with God and His Word, even when it doesn’t seem to sink in.
3. Walk through the minefield with a friend. My best friend is also my wife.
4. Be diligently intentional with kindness. When I don’t feel kind, try even harder.
5. Close the door for a few minutes of time alone.
6. Reset my time-pressure thermostat by eliminating at least one non-vital responsibility (with God’s permission).
7. Worship in community whenever I can.
8. Surrender my stress to God to use for His glory (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Dear God,

Thank you for your peace and power and presence to overcome. Please use all circumstances in my life for your glory.

Amen