The Pressure to Keep Going
I listened to a podcast a few weeks back on avoiding burnout. Preston Morrison and Tim Ross were diving into the reality that many of us don’t do “nothing” enough. That park gear is there for a reason. Yet somewhere along the way, we started believing that it’s noble to “push through” by doing more of the very activities that wore us down.
It seems that over the last four years, our life has been in a constant state of transition. Maybe that’s just the norm when you’re parenting growing children, pursuing ministry goals, and paying the bills on top of it all. Certainly, that combination hasn’t made things any easier.
If you’ve ever felt the weight of life’s demands, you know how vital it is to find peace and purpose. Help us bring that hope to others on their journey of recovery.
Ashley and I do our best to be obedient to the Lord, to say “yes” to what’s in front of us. Saying “yes” isn’t usually the problem; it’s learning when to say “no” or “not now” that is the struggle.
So, when we get a brief moment to slip away without children—which are few and far between in this season—we certainly try to take advantage of it.
Forty-eight hours doesn’t seem like enough time to truly wind down. When you’re so used to people pulling on you constantly, even though the devices are on silent, the kids are taken care of, and ministry responsibilities are covered, the brain doesn’t immediately recognize what’s happening.
Finding Peace in the Pause
Even after making our way through the Paw Paw Tunnel, settling into our glamping dome, getting a couples massage, and taking in the views the next morning, I still found myself waiting for the phone to ring.
The demands show no sign of slowing down. Yet, in the middle of it all, I feel the Lord—and the people in my life—calling me to take a closer look at my rhythms.
That’s the challenge of being all-in, always willing to go, and being extremely confident in my work ethic: if the rhythms aren’t right, it’s unsustainable. Sometimes songs are fast, sometimes they’re slow, and sometimes the pauses are the buildup to the next melody.
Realigning with Purpose Through Rest
I love The Message version of Jesus’ words:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me, and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me, and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
I’m working on these rhythms, and I hope you will too.
As we work on finding peace and balance, your support allows us to extend the same opportunity to others. Consider donating today to help transform lives through faith and community.
What rhythms are you working on in your own life? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear from you.
