WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

Happy Friday!

Apparently, today as I {Mia} write, it's Halloween! I'm so out of touch. Honestly, I barely know what day, month or holiday it is right now.  And Yes, I'm gonna be that house today, you know, the one with the lights turned off, no doorbell and hides in the back as all the kids come looking for candy. It's just one of those days!

I'm tired, I'm exhausted, my feet hurt, and I could barely get myself out of bed. I just feel like my body could go into a deep hibernation and wake up next season and possibly be refreshed! 

Just a short re-cap of this past month: I drove over 5,000 miles from Phoenix, AZ to Pittsburgh, PA and back--mostly on my own-- doing over 20 concerts and events. I got home and worked a concert tour, then the next day came up with a great idea to cut a Christmas album (I am a singer). My producer was game, so I drove to the San Diego, CA area on a day's notice and spent three days in the studio. Then, I left at 9 P.M., Wednesday night as soon as we were done cutting the vocals to drive home so that I could be back in time to work another concert tour that was coming through town that morning. So I made it back close to 3 A.M. yesterday, then off to work and got home about 1 A.M. this morning......and so goes the story of my life. It's actually a pretty typical schedule. I AM EXHAUSTED!

But here is the thing, as I woke each day though all of this, fed on the word of God, allowed His Truth to minister to my soul.....as I went through the Burned Out series with all of you these past weeks, I was able to reflect.....and I came to this conclusion. I'm tired, but I am NOT burned out.

There is a difference for me. Physically, my body may be tired today, but God's grace is sufficient for that. He gave me a day off today to rest, to put my feet up, and gear up for tomorrow's tour coming through town. Today, I rest my body; today I refresh my soul.

I may be tired, but my eyes are fixed on the Author and Finisher of my faith SO THAT I can run this race with perseverance, throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1-3) 

I am NOT burned out. If anything, I am more focused that I have ever been. Yes, I may be exhausted in body, but what a joy to be poured out, knowing that God is going to fill me back up, only to pour it all out again. The difference is that If I were to have my eyes fixed on my own goals and my own expectations, the race would be grueling and exhausting- not only for my body, but more importantly- my soul. That's the danger and that's the difference.

It is only because of what God has done in my life and continues to do that I can even say at this time that I am not burned out, I am not weary of the work or the daily struggles that this work brings and that I am able to rejoice and give thanks in the midst of it.

It wasn't always like that. I remember all to well when I was burned out. I remember what that burn out did. Burn out for me in the ministry of motherhood and marriage almost caused me to loose it all. I was burned out with being a Mom, the daily grind, the days I felt so unappreciated, the time in my life when I did NOT have my eyes fixed on the author and finisher, the times when I had my eyes fixed on ME and what I wanted. That loss of focus caused me to walk out on my husband and my three children... I was BURNED OUT because I lost focus and had the wrong expectations...BUT GOD restored the focus, turned my eyes to focus on Him, redeemed me, my family and the ministry that He had entrusted me to. 

I  praise God that I can say I am not burned out because there was a season when I couldn't say that. So now, I am even more grateful for the focus He has given me! 

Whatever season you are in, sweet sibling in Christ, know that God can restore, refresh, renew and equip you to once again have the fire, the drive and the passion to walk out His call in your life.

And yes, you may be tired, you made need to take a day to put your feet up and rest, but when you fix your eyes on Jesus and remember what He has called you to and remember how He will equip you to walk it out (run it out), you will be able to sit there and say through it all "I am Not burned out."

The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few. There is much to do, so lets fix our eyes on Jesus and run this race to the very end.


"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, IF we do NOT give up." Galatians 6:9 ESV

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