Thrive and Quit Hustling

“For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.” ‭Jeremiah 31:25 NKJV‬

Have you ever strived at something so much that you felt exhausted and overwhelmed after a while? One soul can feel both weary and sorrowful, but we only get to this point when two things happen.

In my career, I’ve created products that never launched, signed on clients who didn’t get results, and started on ideas that needed to be ripe for execution.

In these cases, I’ve grown tired and sorrowful. I’ve grown tired because I’ve exerted so much strength that I have nothing left. I’ve grown sorrowful because all the time invested seemed like a waste since the results weren’t forthcoming.

The anchor scripture shows us that when we are weary, our medicine is to be refreshed through rest. And when we are sorrowful, we can receive the antidote, which is to be filled with joy.

How can we stay refreshed and joyful as we work?

It’s difficult to accept that when we exhaust all our strength, the next thing to do is rest. For a long time, I saw rest as a last resort. And even now, when I feel like I have so much to do, rest takes the back bench.

But when that happens, I grow more tired. Even when I pray and declare that I work from rest, I still get more tired. Why?

Because God’s word requires us to act. If you ask God for refreshing, do what must be done to feel refreshed. Pause the work, stay in His presence, nap, and play. This is a hard thing to do for many, but it is the right thing to do.

How about when you feel sorrowful because there’s no sign of getting what you’ve been striving for?

Well, it’s in the state of refreshing that we receive wisdom on what to do. When we rest, we see clearly and thank God for the journey to that point in our lives that seems devoid of the results we seek.

Instead of consistently working hard at something that is not working, we can pause in God’s presence to get a refill and a realignment. It always works, and we must remember that it does.

“I work from rest with joy.”

God wants us to thrive, not hustle. In what ways have you pushed yourself beyond your limits, and now you’re exhausted?

Love yourself enough to take a break. This is coming from someone who is still learning to do this. From one friend to another, this is what we need. Let’s pause and receive what God has for us.