Sometimes problems in ministry can stem from emotional burnout. To determine if you need a break for some emotional renewal, assess yourself according to the following statements below:
When you take an accurate, honest reading of your emotional gauge and find that it’s reading low, you need to take time to recharge. Some people recharge by running, others by taking a bath, others by reading, and others by listening to music. Usually it means doing something totally unrelated to ministry—golfing, motorcycling, woodcarving. The important thing is to build a leadership and ministry schedule that allows adequate time for emotional recharging.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the use of your major spiritual gifts breathes life back into you. When you have identified your spiritual gifts and use them under the direction of Jesus Christ, you make a difference. You feel the affirmation of God. Many times you feel more energized after service than before.
| True of me | Somewhat true of me | Not true of me | |
| I feel morally vulnerable. |  | | |
| I am getting short and testy with people. | | | |
| I feel a desire to get out of God’s work. | | | |
| I have driven away from a leadership activity recently and said, “It would be fine if I never did that again.” | | | |
| When I drive home from work, I consciously hope my spouse isn’t having a problem and my children don’t want anything from me. | | | |
| When I study the Bible and pray, I am on autopilot. | | | |
| I am out of gas emotionally. | | | |
| I can’t stand the thought of relating to people right now. | | | |
| I feel the urge to take a long walk with no destination in mind. | | | |
| I feel the need to go home, put on music, and let the Lord recharge my batteries. | | | |
