Striving Is Not a Spiritual Gift: How to Lay It Down

Let’s be real: I am a recovering overachiever. I’ve spent years chasing approval, productivity, and people-pleasing—believing that if I could just do more, be more, or fix all the things, I’d finally feel at peace. But here’s the truth God has been teaching me striving is not a spiritual gift.

It’s a trap.

And it’s exhausting.

If your soul feels tired, if your mind never shuts off, and if you constantly feel like you’re falling short—this post is for you. You’re not failing. You’re just carrying something you were never meant to.

The Invisible Weight We Carry

For so long, I thought rest was something I had to earn. I believed if I could just push through the to-do list or check all the boxes, I’d feel better. But the peace I was searching for never came at the end of striving.

Why?

Because our worth was never meant to be measured by what we do.

The belief that my value is tied to my productivity led me straight into burnout. And it’s a lie straight from the enemy. The enemy knows that if we’re too busy proving ourselves, we won’t pause long enough to remember who we are or Whose we are.

When God Interrupted My Hustle

There was a moment when I finally broke. I was sitting in a quiet room, but my soul was loud with anxiety. My eyes scanned the room for something to fix, something to clean, something to check off.

And that’s when I felt God speak to my spirit:

“Stillness isn’t about clearing your schedule. It’s about filling your soul with Me.”

Oof. It wasn’t that I needed to do less, it was that I needed to be with Him more.

Striving vs. Abiding

We often confuse the two. Striving says: “I have to earn it.” Abiding says: “It’s already been given.” Striving is about self-sufficiency. Abiding is about surrender.

Jesus never ran from task to task in a panic. He lived with margin. He paused. He prayed. He rested. If the Son of God made space for stillness, why do we treat it like a luxury instead of a necessity?

How to Lay Down the Striving

This isn’t a one-time fix. It’s a daily decision to walk at a pace of grace. And it starts with these small shifts:

1. Ask: Why am I doing this?

Before you say yes, commit, or rush into another task, ask: Is this from God? Or is this from a place of insecurity, people-pleasing, or fear?

2. Breathe and be still.

Even 30 seconds of silence can remind your soul who’s really in control. Say a breath prayer like:

“I am Yours, Lord. I don’t have to strive. I just have to abide.”

3. Surrender the outcome.

You don’t have to hold it all together. You never did.

Let God carry what’s too heavy. His strength is made perfect in your weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

4. Speak truth over lies.

Keep Scripture in front of you that reminds you of your identity:

“I am a child of God.” (John 1:12)

“I am loved.” (Romans 8:38–39)

“I am a new creation.” (2 Cor. 5:17)

Let truth rewrite the inner dialogue.

What Happens When We Let Go

Friend, I know it’s scary to slow down. But when we do, we finally hear what God’s been whispering all along: “You are already loved. Already chosen. Already enough.”

Striving won’t give you what your soul is searching for—but grace will.

Let’s Trade Hurry for Grace

This post is part of a new series based on my upcoming book, A Pace of Grace: Steady Your Spirit When Life Gets Messy. In it, I walk through how to find stillness in every season—without falling apart when life doesn’t slow down.

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When You Feel Rushed, Remember This

“The Lord is my shepherd… He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”

— Psalm 23:1–3

Ever feel like you’re racing through summer instead of resting in it?

Between keeping up with routines (or the lack of them), trying to make memories, managing the heat, and balancing your own needs with everyone else’s—it’s easy to feel like you’re just trying to keep up.

But here’s a gentle truth: God never rushes us.

He doesn’t push or prod. He leads. He walks. And He knows exactly what you need—not just to get through the day, but to be restored within it.

If you’re feeling rushed, overwhelmed, or running on empty, this is your invitation to pause. To remember that you weren’t made to move at the speed of culture. You were made to follow the pace of the Shepherd.

The same God who created galaxies also created margin. The same Jesus who healed the crowds also withdrew to rest. And the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you—even on your busiest days.

So if all you can manage this week is a whispered, “Jesus, slow me down,”—that’s enough.

Stillness isn’t always situational. It’s spiritual. And peace doesn’t come from a perfect calendar. It comes from walking closely with the One who restores your soul.

Slow-Down Spiritual Practice: Breath Prayer

Find a quiet moment—even in your car or while folding laundry—and pray with your breath:

Inhale: “The Lord is my Shepherd…”

Exhale: “…I lack nothing.”

Repeat it slowly 3–5 times.

Let the truth of His presence slow your heart and steady your soul.

Sabbath Rhythms for the Summer Soul

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”

— Isaiah 30:15

The word “Sabbath” might stir up images of quiet Sundays, unplugged afternoons, or a peaceful day at church. But in reality? Summer Sabbaths can look more like kid chaos, sports tournaments, and last-minute BBQs. Not exactly restful.

But here’s the thing: Sabbath isn’t just a command—it’s a gift.

It’s not a rule to follow, but a rhythm to receive.

Sabbath isn’t just sitting still all day; it’s about stopping—even briefly—to remind your soul that you are not defined by how much you do. It’s a holy pause that says, “God, I trust You to hold everything, even while I rest.”

Summer can make this rhythm feel messy. But what if we gave ourselves permission to practice it imperfectly?

Maybe it looks like sleeping in one Saturday a month. Maybe it’s a no-laundry Sunday. Maybe it’s turning your phone off for an hour and playing cards in the living room.

Sabbath is less about a rulebook and more about realigning with the pace of grace. Your soul was never meant to run at full speed all the time. This summer, let Sabbath be a gentle reminder that God is your rest, not your schedule.

Slow-Down Spiritual Practice: Create a “Mini Sabbath”

Pick one evening this week to rest with intention.

Turn off your phone, light a candle, play worship music, and do something life-giving: take a walk, read, journal, or simply be still.

Ask: “What would bring rest to my body and delight to my soul tonight?”

Then do that—without guilt.

Creating Sacred Space in the Chaos

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

— Psalm 46:10

Summer can feel loud.

Not just in sound—but in activity, movement, and constant need. There’s the snacks, the sunscreen, the sibling squabbles, the surprise errands, and the late nights that somehow still start with early mornings. Stillness? It feels like a luxury.

But what if sacred space isn’t about escaping the chaos—what if it’s about inviting God into it?

Stillness isn’t just found in silence. It’s found in awareness.

It’s the heart that whispers, “God, I see You here”—in the laughter, the mess, the mundane.

Sacred space is created when we pause, even briefly, to remember He’s with us. It’s in the exhale. The turned-off notifications. The decision to sit outside for five minutes without multitasking.

God doesn’t need perfection to meet with us. He meets us in the in-between.

You don’t have to wait for a retreat to rest. You don’t need a clean kitchen to connect.

You just need a moment. And a willing heart.

This summer, let’s stop chasing quiet circumstances and start noticing God’s quiet presence.

Because when we slow down—even just for a breath—we begin to see that He’s been here all along.

Slow-Down Spiritual Practice: Sacred Pause

Set a recurring alarm on your phone at a time that usually feels hectic—maybe 12:30pm or 4:00pm. When it goes off, take one minute to pause, breathe deeply, and pray:

“God, I invite You into this moment. Help me see You here.”

That one minute can become a sacred reset in the middle of your day.

The Myth of the Perfect Summer: Letting Go of Expectations

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

— Matthew 11:28

When summer rolls around, I always imagine long, slow mornings with coffee in hand, kids playing happily in the yard, and unhurried evenings under twinkle lights. But by the second week of June, I’m usually staring down a packed calendar, sticky floors, and a to-do list that didn’t take a summer vacation.

Somewhere along the way, we bought into the idea that summer should be magical, memorable, and perfectly curated. Whether it’s Pinterest-worthy vacations, a house full of fun (but exhausting) activities, or trying to be everything to everyone—our expectations can weigh us down.

But Jesus doesn’t invite us into a “perfect” summer. He invites us into rest. Into stillness. Into His presence—right in the middle of messy living rooms and noisy pool days.

What if this summer, we laid down the pressure to make it perfect and chose to make it peaceful instead?

What if the most beautiful moments weren’t the ones we planned, but the ones we paused for?

The gentle breeze on a hot afternoon. A spontaneous dance party in the kitchen. A quiet moment in the Word before anyone else wakes up. These aren’t interruptions—they’re invitations.

So friend, if you’re already feeling the weight of summer expectations, take a deep breath. Jesus isn’t asking you to impress Him—He’s inviting you to rest in Him.

Slow-Down Spiritual Practice: The “One Thing” Prayer

Each morning this week, ask God: “What’s one thing I need to let go of today? And what’s one thing You’re inviting me to receive?”

Write it down. Let go of the burden. Receive the grace. Sometimes slowing down starts with surrendering just one thing.