Lord, I Just Feel Worn Out
LYSA TERKEURST
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“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 (NIV)
Not long ago, I stood at the sink trying to ease the stabbing feeling of stress. With so much pulling at me, I whispered, “Lord, I just feel worn out.”
I was rushing my loved ones in conversation. Rushing to the next place and the next. Rushing to schedule things and then rushing my people through those things.
My life was set to the rhythm of rush.
My heart demanded a slower pace. But how? I made my decisions, and now my decisions had made me — a shell of a woman caught up in endless demands.
Have you ever felt this way? It’s especially easy to slip into rushing at this time of year.
I'm starting to realize the two most powerful words are “yes” and “no.” How I use them determines how I set my schedule. How I set my schedule determines how I live my life. How I live my life determines how I spend my soul.
When I think about my decisions in this light, it gives gravity to choosing wisely. After all, when a woman lives with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule, she’ll ache with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul — with a full calendar but no time to really engage in life.
If you've found yourself caught in a stressful pace recently, I understand. So much of why my schedule gets overloaded is fear of missing out or not measuring up.
One quick look at social media, and it feels like everyone else can live at a breakneck pace with a smile. Their business pursuits seem more important than mine. Their home is cleaner, and their holiday decor is top-notch. Their kids always get along. They even have time to invite dinner guests over to eat food from their garden. Huh?
But then I remember the timing of God’s words to Jesus at His baptism in Matthew 3:17: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
Jesus hadn’t yet performed miracles on earth, led the masses, or gone to the cross. Yet God was pleased with Jesus before all of those accomplishments. His Father honored Jesus’ identity before He started His activities. Jesus heard God, believed God, and remained unrushed.
In Christ, God has given us a new identity (Romans 6:4). But unlike Christ, we forget. We fill our days with so much activity that the only way to keep up is to rush. But what if keeping up means chasing the wrong desire?
Do I really want my life to look more like others’? Or to look more like God’s best for me?
God’s best for me means engaging with life and the people in it. God's best for me means noticing divine invitations and feeling the freedom to say my best “yes” to His assignments.
If I really want an unrushed life, I must underwhelm my schedule so God has room to overwhelm my soul.
Today, let's stand in the reality of our identity before we resume our activity. Hang on to this truth: God says you are His daughter, who He loves, with whom He is well pleased.
Well pleased because of who you are, not what you do. Well pleased because of an unfathomable, unconditional love that's not earned but simply given.
Dear Lord, unrush me as I set my schedule today. I want to step out of the rush so I can love the people around me, embrace Your best for me, and soak in the precious parts of this holiday season that await me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Some years, December feels like a blur. Between rushing from one event to the next, trying to make everything special, and carrying quiet burdens no one else sees, it’s easy to reach the end of the month wondering if the true meaning of Christmas has been missed. That’s why the season of Advent matters so much. It gently calls us to pause, take a breath, and remember what our hearts need most. Not more striving. Not more pressure. But a Savior who came so the weight of this world doesn’t have to be carried alone. This year, there’s an invitation to slow down. To trade chaos for peace, exhaustion for joy, and striving for rest in Him. More Than a Manger: An Advent Study was created to help make that possible — a simple way to prepare your heart before the holiday rush begins. Get your copy today, and join us starting November 30!
ENGAGE
Find everyday encouragement when you connect with Lysa TerKeurst here on Instagram.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 46:10, “He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth’” (NIV).
What makes it challenging for you to be still at times? As you consider how to live unrushed, how does it encourage you to know that God is already well pleased with you in Christ? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
© 2025 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
