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If you ask someone how they’re doing, there’s a good chance you’ll hear some version of, “Good. Busy.” And you might respond, “Yeah. Me too.”
Most of us are busy for good reasons. We have people we love, responsibilities we carry, and work that matters. Often, we want to be busy. There’s a sense of purpose and satisfaction that comes from investing our time and energy into meaningful things. There’s nothing inherently wrong with a full life—and for many of us, it’s where we feel most alive.
But in the culture we live in, busyness has become a badge of honor. Have you noticed the guilt that creeps in when you slow down? Rest can start to feel irresponsible—like you should be doing more, accomplishing more, proving something about your worth.
The problem isn’t being busy. The problem is when busy begins to crowd out who God made you to be and what he’s calling you to.
You start to feel it when exhaustion sets in—that deep, bone-weary fatigue that doesn’t go away with a good night’s sleep. When you’re constantly giving but never being filled back up. Eventually, even the things you once loved can start to feel draining. That’s not a sign of faithfulness. It’s a warning sign.
God never designed you to live worn down and running on empty. You don’t earn extra credit in heaven for exhausting yourself, even when the reasons are good.
God created you to flourish. You matter to him. Your health—mental, emotional, physical—matters to him. He promises to care for you, restore you, and give you rest. But he won’t force it. It’s up to you to choose rest, to prioritize your health by building intentional rhythms into your life.
Even Jesus modeled this. He regularly stepped away from the crowds to be alone with God to pray, rest, and be renewed. And he invited his disciples to do the same.
The people you love matter. The work you do matters. And both are better served when you are healthy, rested, and living the life God designed you for.
Next Step: Take an honest look at your life right now. If you’ve been running on fumes, what’s one small, realistic way you could create space for rest and connection with God this week?