Wholeness Over Hustle

Thoughtful Thursday: Ep. 1

Welcome to Thoughtful Thursdays—weekly devotionals from The RunninRev made for people who pray best in motion. Tune in each Thursday to read or listen while you take a quick walk and ground yourself in faith.

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30

I’ve often wondered how we got so obsessed with the grind.

Y’all know—work as hard as you can to prove your worth, to show others you deserve to be kept around.

Somewhere along the way, we turned exhaustion into a badge of honor.

But that’s not how we were made to live.

Rest was always meant to be a cornerstone of faith—and life.

As a runner, I feel that in my bones. Every coach I’ve ever had says the same thing: sleep is the most important tool in a runner’s toolbox. It’s when our bodies repair the damage we’ve done. Heart rates slow. Muscles heal. The body resets. Without rest, we break down. Push too hard, too long, and the result isn’t strength—it’s injury and burnout.

I’ve watched generation after generation push through burnout as if it were noble. But this “work, work, work” mentality doesn’t come from Scripture. Throughout his ministry, Jesus modeled rest. He slept through storms, slipped away to pray, and set boundaries even when others demanded more of him.

In Matthew 11, Jesus extends the ultimate invitation: “Come to me…and I will give you rest.” It’s not just physical recovery—it’s soul restoration. Because if we’re always moving, always doing, we never slow down enough to hear God’s voice. There are no “off-days” because every day has a purpose, and rest is wholeheartedly one of those purposes.

So take a rest day. Sleep in. Ease up on the pace.

Remember—rest isn’t weakness. It’s sacred.

You are worth more to God than your productivity.

AMEN!!!