Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises

During a recent trip to Seagrove Beach, Florida my husband Jessie and I were standing on our balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico when he made to most profound statement. “The waves remind me of the power of God, they just keep on coming.” This reminded me of a special segment called, “Atmospheres” on The Weather Channel and something that Jim Cantore had explained.

During a hurricane one of the dangers is the storm surge. During this surge the ocean level can rise 10, 20 feet or more above the normal high tide. When we are faced with storms in our life it often feels that we are drowning in the storm surge. I think it is just a matter of perspective. If we change our perspective to view the waves as the power of God, then the storm surge is the increased power of God during those storms. What an awesome thought as we move past all of the hustle and bustle of the new school year and search for a new, calmer normal.

The first blush of the school year has come and gone and things are settling into a routine. Every year we start out with a flurry of activities to kick off the school year and this year has been no exception. The downside to this is exhaustion, frustration and burnout. Have you felt that way? I shouldn’t be surprised if you have! Things have been going at such a hectic pace that there rises in a mother the need to pull back and rest. That sweet, contented rest that comes from happily busy children and knowing your home is in order.

If you haven’t found this rest yet, or things are not going as you had planned, I want to encourage you and reassure you that this rest is still possible. We just need to do a few adjustments here and there and voila’, you will have it! God’s most Holy Word has plenty to say about perseverance and rewards for those who

You can rest in this assurance, my friend! If God is for your homeschooling adventure, He will surely not get you started and then leave you. If He began this work with you, He will most assuredly see you through until the end. That end should be determined by God and confirmed through your husband. Women are far too emotional to make a decision of this sort on their own.

Persistence in any thing undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business or enterprise begun. Perseverance keeps honor bright. Patience and perseverance overcome the greatest difficulties.

God offers us the ability to persevere in the form of a gift. But this gift does not come alone and it does not come from man. If we attempt to persevere in this adventure under our own power we will become like Abram and Sarai in Egypt. Pharaoh will attempt to take our treasure (Sarai) and God will have to bail us out. But even if you have ventured off into Egypt, God can bring you back to the last place you found Him. God will protect you. God can still use you. You haven’t lost His promise just because you went off on your own. (See Genesis 12)

Did you catch that reward? Hallelujah! Glory is waiting at the end and we don’t have to rely on our own counsel to get there. When you become confused and need answers, just go to God. He always has the resources you need for any problem. You just ask according to His will and He will deliver in His perfect time.

I remember well that first year that we educated our children at home. Jessica and I went head to head many times. Jessie had begun to despair that we would ever have peace in our home again. I was beginning to wonder who this child was and what she had done with my daughter. The greatest change came as we began to pray together about our differences. We realized that because we were so much alike, we were not communicating well. These verses of Scripture were a very real comfort to me during this time:

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Satan was trying so hard to get me to quit! He was using my precious daughter to bring me defeat and discouragement. He was using my strong will to frustrate Jessica and keep success just beyond her grasp. About that time, God reassured me with this verse of Scripture:

With the help of my dear husband and a loving God, Jessica and I reached a compromise. I was able to learn to minister to her heart as well as teach her. I learned how to move from the role of Mommy to Teacher without forsaking our relationship. Jessica learned how to respect me in my different roles without feeling insecure about the changes.

One of the most important lessons that I had to learn about this journey was that the success of my children was not up to me. All I could do was supply them with the tools of education. Teach them how to use them and give them the direction that they need. Their success was up to God. It is He that perfects that which concerns me! All I have to do is be faithful to the charge that He has given me, training my children and teaching them about Him.

One of the biggest mistakes that we make is to become caught up in the false success of the world. If we teach our children that one thing that is needful, to fear the Lord, then they will want to learn and succeed in order to bring honor and glory to Him. All of the awards and trophies are just chaff if they do not bring glory to God. Why do they need an education? So they can learn how to bear fruit for their vine!

In every home that is educating their children for the glory of God you will find failure. We will all have times of extreme stress and flashes of temper. There will be tears and frustration. You see, Satan does not want our children to succeed. It is to his glory to see them fail and our homes collapse into chaos. Every year is a new experience and with this new experience there will need to be a time of adjustment. Life doesn’t cease. We all should be growing and changing with each new day. And with each new day we will face the same old enemy. So, expect some failure and frustrations but don’t view them as an end. For they are only an opportunity to receive more of the grace of God and a greater chance to overcome and receive our rewards. These are merely learning experiences, an end only to the means of glorification, never defeat!

Can you sense my excitement now? But this is the best part! With our reward come a new name and a new dwelling place. So train up your children, equip them with the education they need to take their place in the Kingdom of God. There is a great deal of work for them to do. They must take their places in the Vine and produce much fruit for their Master. What will their work be? Where will their place be? I wonder… But this one thing I know, God is raising up a great new generation in this home educating community. He has a specific plan for these children to be trained in their homes. And in so doing, He will give you the patience and perseverance that will bring you to the place where you will receive

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”

This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please contact Jessie and Mary Woodis at jessiew@hiwaay.net for permission and more details.


	Crooked Pines Ministries Back to Articles by Mary E. Woodis Next to For the Love of Ginger Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises Fighting Burnout with Scriptural Promises: What is Your new Name? Philippians 1:6; Revelation 2:17 By: Mary E. Woodis September 17, 2002 During a recent trip to Seagrove Beach, Florida my husband Jessie and I were standing on our balcony overlooking the Gulf of Mexico when he made to most profound statement. “The waves remind me of the power of God, they just keep on coming.” This reminded me of a special segment called, “Atmospheres” on The Weather Channel and something that Jim Cantore had explained. The Storm Surge During a hurricane one of the dangers is the storm surge. During this surge the ocean level can rise 10, 20 feet or more above the normal high tide. When we are faced with storms in our life it often feels that we are drowning in the storm surge. I think it is just a matter of perspective. If we change our perspective to view the waves as the power of God, then the storm surge is the increased power of God during those storms. What an awesome thought as we move past all of the hustle and bustle of the new school year and search for a new, calmer normal. The Need to Rest The first blush of the school year has come and gone and things are settling into a routine. Every year we start out with a flurry of activities to kick off the school year and this year has been no exception. The downside to this is exhaustion, frustration and burnout. Have you felt that way? I shouldn’t be surprised if you have! Things have been going at such a hectic pace that there rises in a mother the need to pull back and rest. That sweet, contented rest that comes from happily busy children and knowing your home is in order. Where to Look for Perseverance and Rewards If you haven’t found this rest yet, or things are not going as you had planned, I want to encourage you and reassure you that this rest is still possible. We just need to do a few adjustments here and there and voila’, you will have it! God’s most Holy Word has plenty to say about perseverance and rewards for those who persevere. Fighting the Desire to Quit The first point that I have to bring to you today is this: God is not a quitter and He doesn’t want you to be either! Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” You can rest in this assurance, my friend! If God is for your homeschooling adventure, He will surely not get you started and then leave you. If He began this work with you, He will most assuredly see you through until the end. That end should be determined by God and confirmed through your husband. Women are far too emotional to make a decision of this sort on their own. The Heavenly Gift of Fruit One way that God has equipped us to complete this task is by supplying us with the fruits of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Let’s take a look at perseverance PERSEVE'RANCE, n. Persistence in any thing undertaken; continued pursuit or prosecution of any business or enterprise begun. Perseverance keeps honor bright. Patience and perseverance overcome the greatest difficulties. God offers us the ability to persevere in the form of a gift. But this gift does not come alone and it does not come from man. If we attempt to persevere in this adventure under our own power we will become like Abram and Sarai in Egypt. Pharaoh will attempt to take our treasure (Sarai) and God will have to bail us out. But even if you have ventured off into Egypt, God can bring you back to the last place you found Him. God will protect you. God can still use you. You haven’t lost His promise just because you went off on your own. (See Genesis 12) Guidance and Glory When you feel like you have lost your way in this adventure remember this wonderful promise from our loving Father. Psalm 73:24, “Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Did you catch that reward? Hallelujah! Glory is waiting at the end and we don’t have to rely on our own counsel to get there. When you become confused and need answers, just go to God. He always has the resources you need for any problem. You just ask according to His will and He will deliver in His perfect time. Oh! That first year… I remember well that first year that we educated our children at home. Jessica and I went head to head many times. Jessie had begun to despair that we would ever have peace in our home again. I was beginning to wonder who this child was and what she had done with my daughter. The greatest change came as we began to pray together about our differences. We realized that because we were so much alike, we were not communicating well. These verses of Scripture were a very real comfort to me during this time: 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” Satan was trying so hard to get me to quit! He was using my precious daughter to bring me defeat and discouragement. He was using my strong will to frustrate Jessica and keep success just beyond her grasp. About that time, God reassured me with this verse of Scripture: Galatians 6:9, “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” With the help of my dear husband and a loving God, Jessica and I reached a compromise. I was able to learn to minister to her heart as well as teach her. I learned how to move from the role of Mommy to Teacher without forsaking our relationship. Jessica learned how to respect me in my different roles without feeling insecure about the changes. Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” Success belongs to the Lord One of the most important lessons that I had to learn about this journey was that the success of my children was not up to me. All I could do was supply them with the tools of education. Teach them how to use them and give them the direction that they need. Their success was up to God. It is He that perfects that which concerns me! All I have to do is be faithful to the charge that He has given me, training my children and teaching them about Him. Jeremiah 32:39, “And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them.” One of the biggest mistakes that we make is to become caught up in the false success of the world. If we teach our children that one thing that is needful, to fear the Lord, then they will want to learn and succeed in order to bring honor and glory to Him. All of the awards and trophies are just chaff if they do not bring glory to God. Why do they need an education? So they can learn how to bear fruit for their vine! John 15:4, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Colossians 1:10, “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Facing the Enemy in our Home In every home that is educating their children for the glory of God you will find failure. We will all have times of extreme stress and flashes of temper. There will be tears and frustration. You see, Satan does not want our children to succeed. It is to his glory to see them fail and our homes collapse into chaos. Every year is a new experience and with this new experience there will need to be a time of adjustment. Life doesn’t cease. We all should be growing and changing with each new day. And with each new day we will face the same old enemy. So, expect some failure and frustrations but don’t view them as an end. For they are only an opportunity to receive more of the grace of God and a greater chance to overcome and receive our rewards. These are merely learning experiences, an end only to the means of glorification, never defeat! I challenge you to look these verses up in your favorite version of Scripture. They have proven to be a great encouragement to me and I desire the same for you. Psalm 37:24, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Hebrews 10:36, James 1:4. Our Reward! Can you sense my excitement now? But this is the best part! With our reward come a new name and a new dwelling place. So train up your children, equip them with the education they need to take their place in the Kingdom of God. There is a great deal of work for them to do. They must take their places in the Vine and produce much fruit for their Master. What will their work be? Where will their place be? I wonder… But this one thing I know, God is raising up a great new generation in this home educating community. He has a specific plan for these children to be trained in their homes. And in so doing, He will give you the patience and perseverance that will bring you to the place where you will receive your stone and your new name. I can’t wait to find out what mine is! Revelation 2:17, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Back to the top jessiew@hiwaay.net This article is copyrighted by Mary E. Woodis. If you would like to print this article in whole or part in your publication please contact Jessie and Mary Woodis at jessiew@hiwaay.net for permission and more details.