Here’s What Being Burned Out Taught Me About Letting Go and Letting God
The moment I collided with burnout felt like I was going full force—serving, working, doing.
I was in a striving, never-ending “go-getter” mode. I was doing all of the things and forgetting just to be. Until one day, I lost the desire to accomplish what I once had a passion for. The grace just left, and when it hit, it hit… and I felt it.
In one season of my life, I wanted to run on. I had desires to complete tasks, but what I was running to accomplish, I could no longer do. It was almost as if I was losing the ability to complete simple tasks I used to accomplish quickly. God was speaking, and I had to decide to yield, listen, and obey.
It can often be scary to admit burnout because you don’t want to disappoint others or look inconsistent when serving in ministry at any capacity. I did have a bit of a reservation in sharing that part of my story because I didn’t want people to think I was lazy or incompetent by any means. That pressure caused me to remain silent for a season and not share what was happening to me. At the time, I did not have a language for what I was experiencing, so I continued to do life anyhow.
Honestly, I was motivated by my own idea of not having enough provisions to complete projects and assignments if I stopped. I was working on applying for opportunities to sustain my business while also focusing on ministry and family. If I stopped, I didn’t think I would gain access to the open doors, and I didn’t want to pass them by, as I felt I needed them. I had an awakening moment, realizing that fear of failure was the driving force of my actions.
I feared not living up to everyone’s expectations for my life, disappointing family and friends who were with me, and not walking fully in the life of my dreams.
God met me in my burnout through a surrender of rest. I had nothing left in me but to rest, be still, and know. When I surrendered in rest, God ignited the restoration process. Peace, new ideas, and strategies returned in greater measure. My capacity began to increase again to birth purpose. It took me letting go of everything for me to gain the new thing.
Healing for me looked like owning my burnout season—owning the moments when I knew I was exhausted, tired, and still wanted to press on to complete my to-do checklist. Intentional rest and self-care, observing Sabbath in community with friends and family, and setting new boundaries were all healing for my soul.
I’ve set boundaries to protect my peace: designated times in the evening to turn my focus off my phone and not respond to calls, setting appointments with others to create balance in my schedule, and taking full advantage of observing a weekly Sabbath, where I put everything down that feels like work and enjoy the day doing what I love. It’s more than sleeping or taking a nap, it’s allowing my soul to find true rest in the pleasures of life. My goals and aspirations can wait for one day.
To the woman who’s in the same space I was, I would say: take time unapologetically for yourself, breathe again, take a walk, spend time with friends and family, go to the park, live freely, observe the Sabbath, and intentionally take moments to pause. The Sabbath was created for us to rest from the experience of burnout. Take advantage of moments when things are a bit slow to walk in the fullness of peace by taking a rest day. There is still a place of productivity we find when we can work from rest and rest from work. Some of the greatest opportunities await in times when you give your soul a moment to settle down and enter into a new flow of rest. Take in peace, faith, hope, and the joys of life fulfillment for your souls sake. “Leave all your worries with him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 GNTD. Walk along the still waters with God this new season, and allow Him to rest your sweet soul. Rest, my sister, rest!
Burnout has taught me that I can still be productive and walk purposefully in my calling while taking a moment to breathe again. I only have one life to live, and for me to maintain it, I have to steward it well—including my mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Reflection
- Where in your life are you pressing forward out of fear rather than resting in faith?
- What boundaries can you set this week to protect your peace?
- How might observing Sabbath or intentional rest shift the way you see productivity and purpose?
- What does surrendering control look like for you, and how can it open space for God’s restoration?
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