Burning Out Can Lead To a Lack of Intimacy

Burnout is real! Can we just admit that before we go forward? It doesn’t always come up as the "obvious issue in the room." Sometimes, it eases into your life quietly. You know a foggy brain moment here, a subtle change in our attitude there followed by that nagging thought that something isn't done. You don't always think of it as burnout because being busy and "productive" is a part of life. You get used to doing it all, but you have to be open to calling cap when it starts to creep up.

God calls His children to purpose, but never said that it had to run them ragged in the process. He is looking for you to walk with Him and not try to go off ahead of Him. So, let's walk through one of the elements of burning out and what that looks like in the process.

Being so busy in purpose that you miss intimacy with God.

This often happens when you're building something new, like a business, a brand, a ministry, or even a family.

The idea of welcoming a new baby is what comes to mind and the different stages of adapting to this new life that comes with it. There's the excitement, the love and the cuddles with their new baby. Then there's the reality that you have to get up to feed and change your baby every two to three hours with not a lot of time to rest in between. That doesn't mean that the baby isn't still an amazing part of your journey. It just means that some changes have to take place as you begin to adjust to the new addition tin your family. Those moments can lead to a feeling of emptiness especially if you are constantly pouring out, but never taking the time to get filled back up.

How does this begin to show up throughout the rest of your life?

Well let's back up from the baby analogy for just a moment because this interruption in our lives doesn't just come from children. It can also start from starting a new job, getting a promotion, starting school etc. So there's always going to be something taking place in your life that will try to lead your focus elsewhere. You have to be okay with knowing where your priorities are without compromising your values.

Taking a look at your current routine and the one that it will be once the changes takes place is a great place to start. You can see what time has been blocked out for what activity. When you do this, make sure to add spending time with God on there. When you do this, you are now holding yourself accountable to your values. Maybe the way you did it before is a bit different in this season. I've had seasons where I was reading my bible a lot. Then there were seasons where God anchored me with certain verses that I had to mediate on throughout the day. It didn't mean that I didn't stay in my word, but it meant that the way I was going to spend time with God would look a bit different. So maybe right now you are in a season where He is calling you to come deeper and meditate on certain scriptures that pertain to a certain area that He wants to move on in your life. Being able to be present with Him will give you the sure footing you need withstand what is happening.

Replace what you are listening to.

I love listening to music when I'm out and about or in the house. When I started to be more intentional about what I was listening to, I started to see a difference in how I felt. When I played worship music, I could feel peace and this assurance that all was well versus when I listened to other things. For example, the news. Yes we are to be informed, but when you play so much of it, you can start seeing your mood shifting from feeling good to feeling meh. Believe it or not that also can alter how you are able to receive what God is doing in your life.

What activities are you doing?

During my busiest seasons I remember taking time to binge Netflix when I was on break because I just wanted to take my mind off of work or anything else that was happening around me. Well, that became a distraction that took up way too much time. 30 mins of would turn into an hour and then all of a sudden, I was getting frustrated because I was behind. Instead of getting annoyed because of the time that was wasted, you can begin implementing time saving strategies.

For example, are there tools to help you get your work done faster? Do you black out your time for tasks based on your priorities? Are you taking breaks to grab fresh air, drink water or get up so that your mind can have room to breathe? All of these things can be super beneficial when it comes to the mind, the way information is processed and the ways in which you respond afterwards. When your body feels like it being taken care of, you begin to respond differently.

Being nurtured isn't just something we do physically. It happens mentally emotionally and spiritually. They all work together. So, when one area is going through it you can be sure to see some residue show up in other areas. That's why taking time to build intimacy with God equips you handle what's taking place in the day, your mind and in life. Staying connected to God is like having a fresh well that never runs dry. He is always pouring out, we just have to be positioned to receive it.

So, the next time you find yourself getting really busy and you feel like you are getting out of tune with God, take a moment to pause, pray and reflect. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what is out of alignment and to show you what needs to be adjusted.

Final Thoughts:

You are not forgotten and God sees all of you and your whole situation. Spending time with God is not taking away from what is going on in your life, but it is going to add more to it.

If you feel like this post has helped you or encouraged you, leave a comment on the insight gained.

Resources:

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May 24, 2025-We are hosting, "Renew Your Strength and Set Boundaries," a time management workshop to help you identify when burnout occurs and how to navigate it and the belief that you have to be everything for everybody.