Dealing With The Mountain of Burnout
By Pastor Vinnie MacIsaac
Click to listen to an audio version of this article
How much can you give before you are completely spent? We all recharge our phones at least once daily (some of us more). Even as we take our phones off the charger, we know full well they will run out again—and likely at the moment we need them most, during the heaviest usage when the demands on the battery are highest. Does that mean the phone is defective or that the charger is not strong enough? No. It means that all powerful devices need to be plugged in more than once if they are going to keep powering our lives.
Have you ever felt like you’ve poured out everything you have, only to find yourself running on empty? It’s a strange paradox, isn’t it? You’ve given your best, done the work you felt God called you to do, and even seen results. Yet somehow, after the victory, you find yourself weary, drained, and wondering if you can keep going.
You’re not alone. Burnout isn’t just a modern phenomenon; it’s as old as the Scriptures. Today, nearly 40% of pastors report experiencing burnout. For church members and volunteers, the numbers are equally troubling. Studies show that as many as 20% of volunteers discontinue their service within a year, with burnout being a major contributing factor. Even more sobering, many churches are struggling to retain volunteers or recruit new ones, with over half of nonprofit organizations reporting losses in their volunteer base.
Burnout is real, and it’s affecting those who are most committed to serving God. But it’s not the end of the story. Elijah, one of the greatest prophets in the Bible, experienced burnout too. And his story in 1 Kings 19 shows us how God meets us in our exhaustion, renews our purpose, and calls us into a deeper, more committed walk with Him.
Elijah’s Journey to Victory and Collapse
Elijah’s life is one of the most remarkable in Scripture. He was a prophet called to minister to a divided and idolatrous Israel during the reign of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. His mission was clear: to call the people back to worship the one true God, Yahweh.
From the very start, Elijah’s ministry was marked by boldness. In 1 Kings 17, he appeared out of nowhere to declare a drought in Israel, a direct challenge to the false god Baal, who was believed to control the weather. During this drought, God provided for Elijah—sending ravens to feed him, multiplying flour and oil for a widow, and even raising the widow’s son from the dead. These stories are core to so many of our sermons, devotions, and even children’s lessons. Everyone knows Elijah is all about victory! After all, God Himself takes him directly to heaven in heaven’s own limousine—a chariot of fire.
And how many powerful, inspiring sermons have we all heard and given about the defining moment of Elijah’s life: the showdown on Mount Carmel? With fiery courage, Elijah called the people of Israel to choose:
“If Yahweh is God, worship Him; if Baal is god, follow him.”
In one of the most dramatic scenes in Scripture, Elijah prayed, and fire fell from heaven, consuming the altar, the sacrifice, and even the water poured over it. The people fell on their faces, declaring:
“The Lord—He is God!”
It was the pinnacle of Elijah’s ministry. But mountaintop moments are often followed by deep valleys.
As a pastor and as a leader, I can tell you I am most tired after I preach a powerful sermon or lead a board successfully through a great challenge. And that is also the time I am most vulnerable because I am most spent because I gave all I had to God to use me. People won’t stop to remember that leaders and volunteers need to recharge, but God is tracking your battery’s limits at all times.
Burnout After the Mountaintop
Not long after this great victory, Queen Jezebel sent a message to Elijah: she was going to kill him. And he fled into the wilderness like a weak, scared upstart. This bold prophet, who had just called down fire from heaven, now sat under a broom tree, begging God to take his life.
“I have had enough, Lord,” he prayed. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” (1 Kings 19:4)
I don’t think Elijah was just physically exhausted. This was something deeper. He felt isolated, discouraged, and utterly spent. Despite the miraculous victory on Mount Carmel, Elijah felt as though his efforts had been in vain.
Sound familiar? Many of us have been there. Whether you’re a pastor, a church leader, or a volunteer, the pressures of ministry can leave you drained. Studies show that burnout often comes not after failure, but after significant achievements, when we’ve poured ourselves out completely and failed to replenish.
For church volunteers, burnout is particularly common. Twenty percent of volunteers stop serving within a year, and over half of nonprofits report struggling to retain or recruit volunteers. Even when the work feels meaningful, the relentless demands can take their toll.
Elijah’s story reminds us that burnout doesn’t discriminate—it can affect even the strongest among us. But it also shows us how God meets us in that place.
Making It to the Mountain
God’s response to Elijah’s burnout is one of the most beautiful parts of this story. He doesn’t rebuke Elijah for running or criticize him for feeling weak. Instead, He begins with care.
An angel wakes Elijah—not to give him instructions, but to give him food:
“Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” (1 Kings 19:7)
Elijah eats, sleeps, and eats again. God knows that Elijah needs physical restoration before he can hear anything else.
After this, Elijah travels forty days and nights to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God. And please, don’t miss this: God called him to Mount Horeb! That is not a small detail, no matter how easy it is to skip over in our rush to the bigger picture. It is the big picture, and Elijah knew what God meant when He said, “Go to Mount Horeb.”
The location is the call. The location is the message. The location is the restoration. The location is God telling Elijah just how big his role was and what was at stake.
Listen, when I noticed the importance of being called to Mount Horeb, it changed so much about the way I think about burnout so let’s not skip this key lesson. Mount Horeb is the place of Moses. Elijah knew that, and he could not escape the fact that this was a call to finish the ministry in the power of God—or die, never entering the Promised Land with his people.
Mount Horeb, also known as Mount Sinai, is a location of immense significance in biblical history, but especially to Elijah and Moses. Moses was given the Ten Commandments there (Exodus 19-20). Moses was forced to deal with the rebellion of his people worshiping the golden calf there (Exodus 32-34). God showed Moses His glory there (Exodus 33:18-23). But most importantly, God called Moses into ministry at the burning bush there (Exodus 3:1-12).
When the Israelites complained of thirst in the wilderness, God instructed Moses to strike a rock at Horeb, and water flowed out to sustain the people (Exodus 17:1-7). However, it is also believed to be the place where Moses, later in frustration, wrongly struck the rock again and forfeited his ministry and his entrance into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:10-13).
Mount Horeb: A Place of Identity and Risk
Do you get it? Do you see it yet? Do you see what Elijah saw when summoned there? Mount Horeb is the place where your ministry becomes your identity and what I mean but that is your real purpose and passion. It is also the place where you can lose it all because you think your identity is rooted in what you can or cannot keep doing for God.
What is your Mount Horeb? It’s the thing that makes you great, happy, and fulfilled, but it’s also the thing that can take even great leaders like Moses and Elijah down into burnout and bad decisions.
What is your Mount Horeb? Burnout doesn’t happen at Mount Carmel; it happens when we stop hearing God at Mount Horeb!
Whisper On Me, Sweet Jesus, Whisper On Me
There, in a cave at Mount Horeb, Elijah poured out his heart:
“I have been very zealous for the Lord, but the Israelites have rejected Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and put Your prophets to death. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings 19:10)
Elijah’s words are raw and vulnerable. He isn’t holding back his frustration, fear, or despair. And God listens.
Then comes the moment that defines not just Elijah’s life, but the way we understand God’s presence. God tells Elijah to stand on the mountain, for He is about to pass by.
What happens next is extraordinary. A powerful wind tears through the mountains, but God isn’t in the wind. Then an earthquake shakes the ground, but God isn’t in the earthquake. After that, a fire blazes, but God isn’t in the fire either.
Finally, there’s a gentle whisper.
The word for wind in this story, רוּחַ (ruach), is the same word used for both “wind” and “spirit” in the Hebrew Bible. Are there times when we are so tired that the demands of life and ministry knock the wind (ruach) out of us—the very Spirit of God out of us?
This was at this same mountain that a great earthquake shook Moses and his people, symbolizing judgment (Exodus 19:18). When God descended on Mount Sinai to give the law, the mountain trembled violently, underscoring His holiness and the gravity of the covenant being established with Israel. Earthquakes often accompany God’s direct presence, emphasizing His overwhelming power and majesty. They signal a divine encounter or the seriousness of God’s intervention.
After the earthquake came fire, which in the Torah often symbolized not only purifying power but also God’s guidance for His people. A pillar of fire led Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness (Exodus 13:21). The entire covenant with Abraham was sealed with God showing up in fire, illuminating the way to atonement (Genesis 15:17).
Burned Out but Not Burned Up
Sometimes, we can get so “spent” that we stop breathing the רוּחַ (ruach), the breath of God. And if you are not breathing God’s Spirit, how will you be recharged? How will you feel the earthquake under your feet, reminding you of His presence in this place? How will you be led by His guiding pillar of fire?
You may feel burned out, but the fire of God—the pillar of God guiding your life—never goes out.
What happens when you can’t feel God’s Spirit, God’s fire, or God’s movement? Listen for the whisper of Jesus!
It’s in that whisper that Elijah finds God. Not in the dramatic, but in the stillness. Not in the chaos, but in the quiet.
This moment redefines Elijah’s understanding of God’s presence. On Mount Carmel, God had shown up in fire, but here on Mount Horeb, He reveals Himself in a whisper. It’s a reminder that God’s power isn’t always about spectacle—it’s about intimacy. Let Jesus whisper in your ear about the reason you’re called and why the story isn’t over.
Renewal and Recommitment
The gentle whisper wasn’t just comfort for Elijah; it was a call forward. God reminded Elijah that he wasn’t alone:
“There are still seven thousand in Israel who have not bowed to Baal.” (1 Kings 19:18)
God gave Elijah a new mission: to anoint new leaders and to prepare Elisha, the prophet who would carry on his work.
You may feel alone in your ministry—I get it; I’ve been there. But feeling alone and being alone are not the same thing. You may say, “I have no one to help me; look around!” I say to you, listen for the whisper, for God has not abandoned you. There are still seven thousand.
You may feel like you’re on your own, but the whisper of God tells us otherwise. There are still people who have not bowed to the pressures of this world, people who are waiting to walk alongside you in ministry. Elijah’s renewal came with a new mission—mentoring Elisha. Burnout happens when we pour out without pouring into others. Mentoring isn’t just about helping others; it’s about growing your own capacity as a leader. If you’re a Moses, don’t forget your Joshua and Caleb. If you’re an Elijah, let the whisper of God remind you that an Elisha is waiting to carry forward the work God has entrusted to you.
This moment became the anchor of Elijah’s life. His burnout wasn’t the end—it was a turning point. From here, Elijah’s ministry shifted. He became a mentor, a man focused not just on the present but on the legacy of God’s work through future generations.
Meeting Jesus at the Mountain
Elijah’s story teaches us that burnout isn’t failure, and it isn’t the end. It’s a signal that we need to pause and let God meet us in our weariness.
It all comes full circle at yet another mountain—Mount Tabor (as described in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36).
Jesus Himself experienced a moment that could be likened to burnout. Why do I call it burnout? Burnout is defined by what happens when you can’t go forward. Even Jesus, in His humanity, faced moments of struggle. And who did He call on? Moses and Elijah—because only those who have been there can minister to us when we get there.
Jesus led Peter, James, and John—three of His closest disciples—up a “high mountain” to pray. These three often accompanied Jesus during significant moments of His ministry, such as in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew the cross was before Him, and He also knew that Peter, James, and John would soon fail Him in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46, and briefly in John 18:1).
So, on this mountain, Jesus called on those who had been to their own Mount Horebs, who had heard the whisper in the cave. When your closest friends fail you in your moment of burnout, God won’t. He will send to you those who have walked the path before you, so that you can lead those who are walking it behind you.
Dealing with burnout is not just about rest; it’s about real leadership. It’s about knowing where you have been, what it meant, and how to discern where God is sending you next so that you don’t succumb to the anxieties of the unknown. There will be days when you’ll feel like Moses, striking the rock in frustration, and days when you’ll be like Elijah, hearing the whisper, but both days are days that Jesus recharges your batteries with his whisper. Jesus knows how to whisper to you in your season. He has nothing but love and empathy for you because He, too, needed Moses and Elijah to whisper encouragement back into His life, like he had into their lives.
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.” (Hebrews 4:15)
The Whisper in the Cave
If you’re feeling burned out—whether you’re a pastor, a volunteer, or a weary believer—take heart. God meets you where you are, just as He met Elijah. He doesn’t rush you or rebuke you for being tired. Instead, He comes to you with tenderness, offering rest, nourishment, and His presence.But most importantly, He offers Elisha. You are not alone. Stop believing it was ever all about you. Start building your Elisha, Peter, John, and James team. Teach them the secrets whispered to you in the cave at Mount Horeb. If you resist giving up, the seven thousand who have not bowed will come to join the fight with you.
Don’t make burnout the last chapter in your book, because the secret whispered in the cave is simply this:
“I got you. I always had you. Your greatest success will never be Mount Carmel. It will always be those you bless with a double portion of the Holy Spirit (2 Kings 2:9-10) and the legacy you pass to them because of what you learned in this cave.”
He calls you forward. The gentle whisper isn’t just a moment of comfort; it’s a call to recommit—to trust that God isn’t finished with you yet. Like Elijah, your story isn’t over.
The God who met Elijah in the whisper is waiting to meet you too.
Will you step out of the cave?
Elisha, James, John, and even Peter, need you, so show them the way to meet Jesus at Mount Horeb but that will require you to notice that burnout is not about you, it’s about learning it is never about you, and that you’re not alone. And you only feel so tired because you were not called to be the cool, tough, gritty, Lone Ranger we think leaders are. This has never been God’s plan. God doesn’t need heroes because he is the Hero. He needs leaders to build the future Elishas, James, Johns, and even Peters. It’s about recharging with those who have been there in order to charge up those who one day will go there.
It’s about the whisper, “I got you. I always had you. Your greatest success will never be Mount Carmel. It will always be those you bless with a double portion of the Holy Spirit. Staying in the cave will mean you die alone. Go forward! Elisha needs you, and you need your Elisha. Defeating burnout is a team sport.”
It is all about seeking Jesus on deeper theological levels.
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strange paradox, isn’t it? You’ve given your best, done the work you felt God called you to do, and even seen results. Yet somehow, after the victory, you find yourself weary, drained, and wondering if you can keep going.
