You Don’t Have to Hustle for Healing: Finding God’s Rest in a Burnout Culture -  iBelieve Truth: A Devotional for Women - October 22, 2025

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"He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:2-3, NIV). 

Recently, I spoke at a local private school about the masks we tend to wear as Christians. Fitting for Halloween, our masks look less like werewolves and vampires, and more like "I'm fine," "I'm good," and "I'm okay." Instead of telling the truth, we cover our exhaustion with typical clichés. Not only that, but we hustle to feel okay. Our souls can be fixed through productivity, perfectionism, self-improvement, or even crazy amounts of ministry. 

The reality is that, as much as we push, pull, and strive, healing emotionally, spiritually, and mentally isn't something we can rush or earn. God isn't keeping track of tally marks in Heaven and awarding gold stars. Why? Because rest is something we receive. It's a gift. It's something we can't earn or force ourselves to achieve, no matter what culture thinks about this. 

In a trying season, I memorized Psalm 23. In times of distress and anxiety, I recite the words to myself over and over again. The more I read them, the more one fact stands out: God makes me lie down in green pastures. God is the one who leads me beside quiet waters. God is who restores my soul. Are you picking up on the pattern? 

This Psalm reminds me that God makes us lie down because sometimes (and most of the time), we won't choose rest for ourselves. The Lord knows our habits and tendencies. He understands our addictions to being busy, productivity, and trying to earn our worth. And yet, God doesn't ask us to fix ourselves. He invites us to be still long enough to be restored. To let Him in. To allow Him to do what only He can do. Because healing happens in stillness and not striving. 

For years, I've struggled to internalize this message. I have my own bad habits and tendencies that tell me I need to hustle for healing. If I read the right verse, pray like them, or work harder, I'll feel whole. But here's the truth: God restores what we can't fix or repair. And authentic restoration comes when we learn to lay it all down. It comes when we surrender and lay down the striving, acknowledging that we can't save or fix ourselves, and that's okay. That's the way Christ created and intended it to be. 

If you're struggling to rest in these truths and receive the rest by still waters that Christ offers today, I want to provide three small ways to stop husting for healing:

1. Remove one thing. I know it sounds daunting, but take one thing off your plate. Maybe it's negative self-talk or not allowing yourself to dream. For others, perhaps it's saying "yes" to everything or replacing the scroll with five minutes of silence. No matter what it is, remove one thing that will enable you to be more open to the Lord's stillness. 

2. Practice silence. If you're anything like me, this small step is scary. I hate a few things more than total silence. My thoughts get too loud, and I quickly become overwhelmed. But our relationships and conversations with God should be a two-way street. Therefore, we need to allow time and space for Him to speak. Learn to sit in the discomfort of silence. It's good for our souls. 

3. Let go of guilt. While giving you this tip, know that doing this isn't easy. It's often not a one-and-done practice. Time and time again, I've had to learn to let go of the guilt I've believed about resting. I've had to lay down the lie that rest is lazy and unproductive. Because the truth is, sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax. Embrace the discomfort, and let God speak. 

We're not called to hustle to heal, but to stay with the Shepherd long enough to let Him lead us. Let Psalm 42 be your prayer of stillness today.

Prayer
Dear God, embracing stillness is a world that praises being busy and productive, which is scary and overwhelming. Many "what ifs" fill our minds, and we're petrified of what will happen if and when we stop. But Lord, proper rest is found when we stop striving and instead learn to rest in you alone. Help us receive the peace you offer and teach us to sleep beside your still and quiet waters. We love, praise, and trust you, Jesus. Have you way in each of us and speak to us. Amen.  

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/May_Chanikran

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.

Related Resource: Soft Words for Hard Days: A Conversation with Aundi Kolber

Some days feel heavy. Some moments leave us wondering how to keep going. If you’ve ever longed for encouragement amid life’s hardest moments, I have a special episode of The Love Offering for you. This week, I’m joined by therapist and bestselling author Aundi Kolber to discuss her latest book, Take What You Need: Soft Words for Hard Days. This beautiful collection of quotes, scriptures, prayers, and gentle exercises is designed to be a balm for your most tender places—a reminder that you are never alone on your journey to healing.

In our conversation, we explore:
✨ How to hold space for yourself and others in difficult seasons
✨ The power of compassionate words when life feels overwhelming
✨ Practical ways to embrace healing and take one more step forward

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe to The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!