Sin Fatigue PRESIDENT 'S PERSPECTIVE


by KEVIN STONE, PRESIDENT


This article came with some writer’s block. I thought I could write about Easter, or perhaps Connect21 — but Connect might be an online meet-


ing again due to COVID-19, which is very frustrating, so I started thinking about the negative impact of COVID-19.


I have read some articles about “COVID-19 Fatigue.”


Simply stated, people are tired of this pandemic. Miss- ing out on events, wearing masks, cancelling plans for gatherings or travel — all of these have been wearing on our collective emotions. Our desire for life to return to its normal, healthier state is such that the physical illness has produced a separate mental illness.


We had hoped things could return to normal if we


developed a vaccine. Now the vaccine has been around for a few months, but we still wonder when some things will ever be restored. Many suggest that life will never again be what it was before, that there is a “new normal.”


So, here we are — frustrated, disappointed, facing


uncertainty and depression. We are lacking freedom and connection; life seems unsatisfying. We feel like foreigners stuck in a place we do not belong. If these emotions prog- ress to the point of COVID-19 Fatigue, symptoms include exhaustion, burnout, and feelings of ineffectiveness.


Even if you have no risk of catching COVID-19, you


still suffer the effects that the disease has on society. This means you may experience the separate ailment called “COVID-19 Fatigue.”


That being said, I think I will write about Easter. Sin came into the world and changed it, in a much


more profound way than COVID-19 ever could. But like COVID-19, sin created separation. We are separated from God by sin. We are separated from each other by sin. This condition goes on and on, causing us untold loneliness, pain, anguish, and sadness.


SAVE THE DATE: 07/8-10/2021 Connect21 is scheduled for July 8-10 in Grunthal, Manitoba. If an electronic AGM is necessary, it will be held on Saturday, July 10 via Zoom. Your church will receive details soon.


The only way to be cured of sin is to trust Jesus


Christ for your salvation. Praise God, Christ is risen! He is the Messiah, who rose again on that first Easter, paid the price for sin, and purchased eternal life for those who believe. We are fully justified and spotless through his shed blood — sinless before God.


But even those of us who have been cured of sin still


suffer the effects. We live in a world that is corrupted by sin. We are foreigners stuck in a place we do not belong. We battle our own fleshly desires, and we suffer the impact of others’ sins. We tire of waiting for the blessed hope of Easter. In other words, even those who have salvation are at risk of developing Sin Fatigue.


“Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” Hebrews 12:3


Sin Fatigue brings with it many symptoms. We find


ourselves seeking to satisfy our craving for connection and peace in the wrong ways. We become exhausted, frustrated, or depressed. We begin to feel like our ministry is ineffective and fruitless. We can become burned out on ministry, or even on living the holy lives to which we are called.


While we dwell as foreigners here in this broken


world, Sin Fatigue is a danger. There is no easy cure, but here are a few suggestions for treatment:


1. Maintain hope. Claim the fact that sin no longer has control over your life and believe that God’s promises are true. Trust that he will restore you to eternal glory and wholeness in his presence.


2. Build healthy connections. Foster a vibrant rela- tionship with God through prayer, the Word, and worship. Develop accountable relationships with your fellow brothers and sisters.


3. Practice self-care. Along with the spiritual care above, care for yourself physically. Maintain healthy habits, including sufficient rest. Sometimes you need a weekend away or a sabbatical.


Yes, I made up the term “Sin Fatigue” as an illustra-


tion for this article, but we all know that the race is long and difficult, and that we grow weary. Encourage your weary friends, encourage your weary pastors, and be encouraged! Someday, all will be restored.


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, APRIL/MAY 2021 2


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