Let’s talk about the moments when God feels distant—even though you’re doing all the things to stay close.
I’ve had seasons when I was in the Word, serving faithfully, showing up with a smile—and still felt dry. Tired. Disconnected. And I wrestled with the shame of it. How could I feel this way when I knew better?
Jess names something in these chapters that resonated so deeply with me: Sometimes we’re spiritually tired not because we’ve stopped seeking God, but because we’re running ourselves ragged in our own strength trying to serve Him.
And wow, have I been there.
There was a stretch in ministry when I kept showing up, pouring out, doing my best to steward what God had given me—but underneath it all, I was numb. I was checking spiritual boxes but not connecting with the Person of Jesus. I had traded intimacy for performance and quiet for constant motion.
And the result? Exhaustion. Resentment. Emptiness.
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.” – Psalm 116:7
That verse feels like a deep breath to me now. It’s a reminder that rest doesn’t mean giving up—it means coming home. Coming back to the Source, not out of guilt, but out of grace.
This week is an invitation to get real about the spiritual exhaustion beneath the surface. To stop pretending we’re okay when we’re not. And to remember that even when God feels far, He isn’t.
He’s near. He sees you. And He’s not asking for your perfection—He’s inviting you to abide.
Reflect:
Where are you spiritually worn out?
Have you traded connection with God for activity for God?
What would it look like to return to rest—body, soul, and spirit?
You were made for more than dry obedience.
You were made for a living, breathing relationship with your Savior.
Speak This Over Yourself:
I don’t have to earn God’s love—
I already have it.
I release the pressure to perform.
I return to rest.
I am not alone in my weariness.
God sees me, sustains me, and draws me near.
My worth is not in what I do—
it’s in who I belong to.
I choose connection over striving.
Stillness over hustle.
Grace over guilt.
I was made to abide—
and I breathe deeply in His presence today.