☀ July 4th · Permission to Slow Down

Dear family, today is Thursday.

Have you ever felt this way? You’ve done so much, yet you still think, “It’s not enough.” You pushed through the whole day, yet you wonder, “Am I being lazy?”

Look closely at yourself: that’s not laziness. That’s being so tired you don’t even have the strength to speak.

We’re a generation taught to grind, rarely taught to rest. We’re afraid stopping means falling behind, being judged as useless, or having to face the anxiety of an empty moment.

Soul Note｜You’re Not Lazy—You’re Overdoing It

I knew a girl who was always the first to arrive and last to leave. People called her driven, but she told me something unforgettable:

“I’m not passionate—I’m just scared people will see I have no worth.”

She didn’t love the grind—she feared what stopping might reveal. And many of us are the same: we don’t rest, not because we’re not tired, but because pausing makes us feel useless, powerless, unneeded.

But dear one, God doesn’t want you to be a non-stop machine. He is the Shepherd of your soul, and His love isn’t based on your output.

He says: “You can lie down, you can rest.” Green pastures and still waters aren’t rewards. They’re your rightful home.

Prayer

Lord,

I feel like I haven’t truly rested in a long time. My heart keeps racing, my mind won’t stop, even trying to do nothing makes me anxious.

I’m afraid if I slow down, people won’t need me. If I pause, I’ll fall behind. If I stop proving myself, I’ll be forgotten.

But Lord, You don’t see me that way, do You? You see my exhaustion, and You never measure me by speed.

Remind me today: I’m not loved for what I do, but because I belong to You—and that makes me worthy of rest.

Teach me to relax, to release, to let go, even if only for a moment. Let me truly rest in You.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Today’s Challenge｜“Slow Down” Practice

Take 5 minutes today—no phone, no music, no thinking about the future. Just sit, close your eyes, breathe, and feel yourself alive in this moment.

It doesn’t need to be special. The moment you sit down is already green pasture for your soul.

Reflection

“Am I truly tired? Am I doing all this from freedom—or from fear?”

You don’t have to change your pace instantly. Just remember: you are allowed to slow down.

You’ve already done well. You don’t need to prove your worth by speeding up. True peace doesn’t come from hustling—it comes from being led into it.

See you tomorrow.