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.
➡️ Want more encouragement like this?
Follow along on Instagram @HeyHeatherCook and subscribe to my newsletter for sneak peeks, freebies, and preorder updates!