There’s a moment in this week’s chapters where Jess says something that felt like she had been reading my journal. This week in Tired of Being Tired, Jess leads us to confront something that quietly fuels our exhaustion: the relentless voice of our inner critic.
You know the one I mean—the voice that tells you you’re never doing enough, that if you just tried harder or managed better, you’d finally feel at peace. The voice that doesn’t celebrate what you have done, but zeroes in on what you haven’t.
I’ve listened to that voice more times than I’d like to admit. It’s subtle and convincing. It hides under the mask of responsibility or even spiritual discipline. But here’s what I’ve learned (and continue to learn):
That voice is not the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit convicts, yes—but He never condemns. He leads with gentleness. He calls us to rest, not to run ourselves ragged.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1
I remember one specific evening when I felt like I had failed at everything—ministry, parenting, self-care, friendships. I sat on the couch defeated, mentally replaying all the ways I didn’t measure up that day. And in the quiet, the Lord spoke—not in shame, but in truth:
“I don’t love you because of your performance. I love you because you’re Mine.”
That truth silenced the critic.
This week is about giving ourselves permission to stop rehearsing our failures and start rehearsing God’s faithfulness. It’s about shifting from self-criticism to grace-filled awareness. Exhaustion isn’t just about physical depletion—it’s the weariness of carrying expectations God never asked us to carry.
Reflect:
What does your inner critic sound like?
What might God be saying instead?
What would it look like to let grace speak louder this week?
You were made for more than mental noise and never-enough pressure.
You were made to walk in the quiet confidence of being fully loved.