Burnout Isn’t the End—It’s an Invitation

znatalieprice
Jul 20, 2025
5 min read

Strength for the Weary: A Reset with Jesus

Hi dear sisters,

Can I be honest? I’ve burnt out in the past where I couldn’t imagine how I could get out of bed the next day and go back to work. I used to call in sick just so I could rest mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Apparently, they call those mental health days. It makes me feel less guilty about those sick days—hallelujah! And I can admit even now I feel pretty depleted doing the multitude of tasks with church, family, work, and ministry. But thank you Jesus for your wisdom and discernment. I don’t need to hit rock bottom to cry out to my Saviour. I sense the signs in my body and emotionally, and I want to share what has helped me in the past. I pray that the Lord would bless you and help you through this time of surrender.

Burnout: The Battle Before the Breakthrough

There are moments in our lives when everything feels too loud, too full, too fast. The inbox is overflowing, the calendar is crammed, and your heart feels far from the One who gives true rest.

You’re doing all the “right” things — serving at church, supporting your family, staying productive at work — but inside, you’re running on fumes. You’re sighing more than smiling, sleeping but not feeling rested, craving solitude instead of community.

Sister, if that’s you, you may be in a spiritual battle masked as burnout.

As a sermon from Pastor Vlad reminded me so powerfully: when the enemy can’t destroy you, he will try to wear you out. Because he knows that your next level is near, and if he can’t stop it, he’ll try to exhaust you before you reach it.

But praise be to God — burnout isn’t your end. It’s an invitation.

What Is Burnout, Really?

Burnout isn’t just being tired — it’s being depleted: emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually. And as Christian women, we often spiritualize our exhaustion, thinking pushing through is somehow noble.

But burnout isn’t a badge of honour. It’s a warning light. A holy invitation. A sacred opportunity to pause before you break.

Jesus said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Not “hustle harder,” but “come to Me.”

Signs You May Be Experiencing Burnout

You feel numb or emotionally disconnected
You’re easily irritated — even by small things
Your devotional life feels dry or nonexistent
You keep thinking, “I just need to get through this week…” — every week
You feel guilty for resting
You’re avoiding people or responsibilities

If any of these ring true, it’s not weakness. It’s time to reset with Jesus.

Step 1: Gather Your Strength in the Lord

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— He who watches over you will not slumber.” — Psalm 121:1–3 (NIV)

Before we can even muster up the motivation to change our rhythms to be more sustainable, we must first gather our strength in the Lord.

We cannot push through. We cannot “organize our way out of it.” (That one’s for me and my Type A sisters.)

We need to stop. To be still. To acknowledge: I need strength that doesn’t come from me.

We need to go to the Rock that is higher than us (Psalm 61:2) and linger in His presence—even if our minds are wandering, even if our hearts feel numb.

Be Still

But what do we do when we feel like we have nothing left?

Sometimes I just need to drop the next task, go for a walk in nature, or sit quietly—wherever I am. Yes, even if that means retreating to a bathroom stall at work. We desperately need stillness. We desperately need to remember:

His faithfulness
That He will not let your foot slip (Psalm 121:3)
That He has good plans for you (Jeremiah 29:11)
That you are chosen and never forsaken (Isaiah 41:9–10; Hebrews 13:5)

Even in chaos, stillness anchors us in truth.

Sing

Many of the Psalms were originally songs—cries, declarations, and praises to the Lord.

“Sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things.” — Psalm 98:1

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” — Psalm 89:1

You can sing traditional hymns like:

“Amazing grace! how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.” — Amazing Grace

Or:

“Come Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace; Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.” — Come Thou Fount

You can sing the names of God—

Or you could sing modern songs that express the rawness of your heart.

From Hard Fought Hallelujah by Brandon Lake:

“I don’t always feel it, But that’s when I need it the most. Imma keep on singing, Till my soul catches up with my song.”

Or Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace) by Hillsong:

You take our failure, You take our weakness You set Your treasure in jars of clay So take this heart, Lord, I'll be Your vessel The world to see Your life

If your tradition includes it, pray in tongues until you feel the fire begin to stir again. Groan in the Spirit until your weary soul begins to catch up with the truth your spirit already knows. Let the deep, wordless prayers rise — because only the Holy Spirit can interpret the cries of a tired heart.

Sing until the pressure lifts. Sing until you can boldly say, “It is well with my soul,” not because everything has changed, but because your Abba Father is looking upon you with love.

He is where your strength comes from. Your circumstances may remain the same, but you will return to them different — renewed, rooted, and resilient in the strength of the One who made heaven and earth.

Side Note: Re-engaging Your Prefrontal Cortex When You’re Numb

When you're burned out or overwhelmed, it’s not just your soul that’s weary — your brain is too.

The prefrontal cortex — the part of your brain responsible for decision-making, focus, and emotional regulation — can go offline when you’ve been under prolonged stress. That’s why you might feel:

Foggy or forgetful
Emotionally flat or disconnected
Like you can’t pray, focus, or even feel

This isn’t a sign of failure — it’s a signal that your body is trying to protect you by going into survival mode. But you don’t have to stay there.

To gently re-engage your brain and reconnect with the Lord’s presence, try pairing spiritual practices with simple grounding exercises like these:

Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can feel, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste (grounding through the senses)
Drink a glass of cold water slowly and mindfully
Touch something textured (like a blanket or leaf) while playing instrumental worship music
Speak a breath prayer aloud, such as: “Jesus, You are near.” “God, I receive Your peace.”
Try the self-hug + tapping technique: Wrap your arms gently around yourself like a hug. Then, begin softly tapping each upper arm, alternating left and right in a steady rhythm. As you do this, breathe slowly and say something simple, like: “I am safe.” “God is with me.” “I am held.”

This method can calm the nervous system, reawaken connection, and prepare your heart to engage spiritually again.

💗 Remember: God, who knit you together (Psalm 139:13), knows exactly what your body and soul need — and He delights in caring for every part of you.