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Burnout
Rev. Fr. Andrews Obeng, SVD

Burnout is a physical, mental or spiritual collapse due to exhaustion or wear out. A person going through the experience of burnout loses so much energy without having a source of replacement. In a burnout, the amount of fuel one burns do not corresponds with the amount of fuel one has inside. A lamp burns brightly when it has enough oil to lubricate its wick. However, it flickers and quickly burns out when the oil runs out.

Quite a number of Christians experience burnouts in their spiritual lives because they have not developed the capacity to wait on the Lord for a very long time. For a moment, they fast and pray, seeking the face of the Lord for a particular intention. If it happens that the Lord ‘delays’, according to their human timing, they burn out because they do not have any more oil for waiting.

The 'five foolish virgins', in our Gospel text in Matthew 25:1-13, did not anticipate a prolonged time of waiting. They had oil to wait for some time but not enough oil to wait for a very long time. So when the worst happened and the bridegroom delayed, they found out they had run out of oil.

To have oil for waiting is to come to the understanding we do not set time for the Lord to act; he acts in his own divine time and ‘in his time, he makes all things beautiful.’ To have oil for waiting is to be ready anytime and anywhere for the visitation of the Lord.

When you really want something, you do not mind how much time it takes to wait for it. If we truly love the Lord, we will wait for him. Let us psych our minds, fortify our spirits and continue waiting upon the Lord in intense prayer. Our time of divine visitation is just around the corner.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I do not mind waiting. I will keep waiting upon you until your glory shines forth in my life. Amen

Andrews Obeng, SVD

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Front Page

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