As college students, we are unfortunately all too familiar with the concept of burnout. Our professors give us seemingly endless piles of homework and assignments, our osra leaders have an infinite amount of kids that need outreach, and our parents never run out of chores that must be accomplished… the list goes on. A simple Google search claims to have the perfect remedies for burnout — practicing self-care, taking a walk, getting some exercise in, etc. While all these things are undoubtedly great ways to de-stress, it may slowly lead to us continuing to rely solely on ourselves for relief.
This self-assured mentality is a slippery slope, because it makes it that much more difficult to recognize our true Savior in this life. Instead of constantly putting pressure on ourselves and expecting the remedies of man to help us, we should turn our trust to God, the True Physician and Curer of all. His love and grace are more than sufficient for us, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Matthew 11:28-30 beautifully expands on this idea: “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
We should humbly remember that the source of our strength is not within ourselves, but thanks to the strength that God gives us. Every Christian knows that, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phillipians 4:13). But this strength is meaningless if not properly directed. Even Samson, with all his God-given might, fell victim to the tricks of the devil. How strong could we possibly be, a bunch of burnt-out college kids that whine for weeks about a single set of midterms?
Again, this strength is not ours. It comes from Him, and we must choose to accept it. Whenever we are feeling weak, we can remember the words of our teacher St. Paul, who tells us that we ought to: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11.
We aren’t just burnt-out bums – we are soldiers who wear the armor of God. We are the salt of the Earth, the light of the world, ambassadors for Him, and His fellow workers. If anything, it seems almost ridiculous to accept the label of “burnt-out”. It is paradoxical that an infinite Well of water, springing up into everlasting life, be burnt-out.
In Him there is no end, no exhaustion, no despair. He is our comfort and our calm in the storm (Psalm 107:29). When we run in this world, we run to receive the prize — “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Cor 9:24-25). The prize of eternal life is the ultimate goal for all of us, and no worldly obstacle in our race will ever be enough to stop us from chasing after it as long as we have Him.
Lastly, it is important to not only remember His strength once or twice a week or in the “Hey God I need an A” prayer. St. Paul again tells us that whatever we do should be to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Colossians 3:23-24 also emphasizes this idea, saying “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ”. If we keep this mentality at the forefront of our daily lives, the idea of burnout suddenly isn’t as scary anymore. We are human, and it is normal for us to become overwhelmed and exhausted (we’ve all experienced it)… However, we can be comforted by the fact that He is strong when we are weak, and when we love Him, no weapon formed against us shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17).