When the Lord Slows you Down

Author : Maddie Turner

“I didn’t create you to live burned out. I created you to live in rhythm with Me.”

Those words settled deep into my soul one morning as I sat with the Lord, completely exhausted—mentally, emotionally, even spiritually. I was doing all the right things. Serving, showing up, pouring out, pushing through. But my heart? It was dry. My joy felt thin. And I was running on empty.

Maybe you’ve been there too.
Or maybe you’re there right now.

Burnout is sneaky. It doesn’t always look like crashing and burning—it often looks like functioning just fine on the outside, while slowly withering on the inside. It looks like saying “yes” out of pressure instead of peace. Like striving in our own strength. Like trying to do for God without actually being with God.

But friend, that’s not the way of Jesus.

When we look at His life, we don’t see a Savior in a hurry. We see someone who walked in unforced rhythms of grace. He knew when to say no to the crowds. He woke early to pray. He broke away for silence. And He lived in step with the Father, not in competition with the world.

Jesus never rushed—and He never burned out.

And if we are His, we were never meant to either.

The truth is, you weren’t created to carry it all.
You weren’t made to perform, prove, or produce your way to peace.

You were created for connection. For communion. For daily dependence on a God who offers rest for your soul.

So if your life feels like a constant sprint, it might be time to pause and ask:

• Am I living at a pace that matches the heart of God?

• Have I confused fruitfulness with busyness?

• When was the last time I sat still—not to plan, perform, or pour out—but simply to be with Jesus and let Him speak to my heart?

Because the life God has for you is not one of constant exhaustion—it’s one of holy rhythm.

A rhythm of rest and work.
Stillness and movement.
Silence and speaking.
Pouring out and being poured into.

You don’t have to do more to be more.
You don’t have to carry what’s not yours to carry.
And you don’t have to keep running just to keep up.

The invitation is simple: Come back to rhythm. Come back to Him.

“Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” – Matthew 11:29 (MSG)