Prevailing Purpose

In my work as a biblical counselor, a large portion of my time is dedicated to walking with people through seasons of suffering. As part of this work I am constantly listening to retellings of trauma, disappointment, and sin. While it is a joy to witness spiritual transformation and freedom from those burdens, the weight of this work can all too easily lead to burnout and weariness.

Additionally, I am also a special needs mom. While my love for my son is profound, I also recognize that it takes more than love to care well for him. My role as his mom goes beyond the usual and includes helping him through hyper-fixations, getting up in the night when he can’t sleep, and advocating for him in doctor’s offices, classrooms, and even with insurance companies.

Both my professional and personal roles bring deep joy, but neither is without hardship. I have had to be consistent in my search for a balance for caring well for my own soul as I seek to care well for others. I know that I am not alone in this. Whether you are a healthcare professional, minister or pastor, or are caring for loved ones, you understand those long days that a simple “sweet treat” or a long weekend won’t fix. Below are four ways I’ve been learning to guard against burnout—ways that go beyond self-care and into soul-care.

Church Services

Call it cliche, but you need other believers. There have been plenty of Sunday mornings that I have little desire to go to church and would much rather eat pumpkin pancakes in my pajamas. But especially on those mornings, few things refresh me like listening to those around me worship the Lord. Even when I can’t bring myself to sing, the faith and hope of others act as scaffolding that keeps me standing another week. Likewise, sitting under teaching helps us to renew our minds and reorient our hearts around truth that we so easily forget. So rather than cutting your church commitments when your schedule gets full, prioritize them.

Exercise

Regular exercise moves beyond self care when it moves from vanity and to genuine stewardship. Rather than obsessing over maintaining a certain body type, be intentional to notice and respond to what your body needs. Even if you are not training for a half-marathon, we need days of active recovery and rest. Exercise can also help to regulate the body allowing us to enter back into our work regulated.

Silence and Solitude

This rhythm is new for me and one of the hardest to maintain. On Friday evenings, I try to sit quietly for thirty minutes. This is not a time to disassociate or plan for the week ahead, but to better discern the Lord’s voice and truly listen. Often I find myself convicted and it leads to a time of repentance, other times I am encouraged by God’s faithfulness and provision. Either way, this spiritual rhythm forces me to slow down long enough to take inventory of my own soul, helping me recover from the week.

Biblical Counseling

It may not surprise you that a biblical counselor encourages biblical counseling. But in seasons of stress or anxiety, it can truly be a lifeline. Biblical counseling isn’t a space to vent frustrations, rather it is an intentional period of time to address a specific issue. Having a counselor to point us back to truth and provide clarity through the fog of feelings can help significantly with healing.

Whatever caregiving role you hold, I encourage you to seek true refreshment and soul care. Start with one practice mentioned above and find your own rhythms of rest and renewal. Maintaining your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health is vital for not only yourself, but also for those the Lord has entrusted to your care.

Let’s keep in touch! Join my monthly newsletter for recent posts, recommendations, and more here, or find me on Instagram.

If you are walking through a difficult season and can benefit from biblical counseling, schedule a session with me or another qualified counselor today.