“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” – Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)
A few years ago, I’d never imagine being where I am now. My teenage self would be proud. I earned all the degrees and certifications, and I have the career I once dreamed of. I prioritize my health. I have great friends, even though we haven’t seen each other much in person lately. I have quality time with Jesus every day.
And yet I’m overwhelmed. I’m still healing from pain I wish I never had to endure. My career is rewarding, but so very draining. I’m trying to keep up with some sort of normal routines following the complicated pandemic. The words “burnout” and “depletion” have been recurring in my vocabulary a little more than normal. I’m grateful for all I have, don’t get me wrong. I’m just feeling like circumstances are too much for me to have it all together.
There’s part of me that wants to give up. Then there’s the part of me that knows if I never address the underlying issues, I’ll never truly recover. Healing starts with me seeking the Lord first and trusting Him alone to give me true rest.
In Luke 9:23-94, Jesus gives us some clear advice and wisdom to avoid burnout: seek him to gain your life, seek the world to lose it. What if the burnout and feelings of being overwhelmed are coming from seeking the world a little too much? While God is my source and I spend time with him, I’m also investing my time and energy into many other things. It’s not bad to have other commitments. But when those things become too much of my identity, they become idols. And that’s when I lose myself.
Jesus calls us to seek him for life. He is our source of abundant life and he provides us with perfect rest (John 10:10; Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus never asked me to control things. He never asked me to even try. He only wants my daily surrender. And when I seek him – not my own desires, not the things of the world – I gain my life. I see from an eternal perspective. I find true rest, joy, and peace from Jesus, my Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Instead of investing too much into my desires and plans, I give them up to Jesus. He honors my obedience. He blesses my time and helps me refocus on what really matters: advancing his kingdom wherever I am.
That’s where the Lord spoke to my heart “90 days” on a Sunday afternoon. Earlier that day, my church announced a 90-day habit-forming challenge to continue practicing habits of prayer, Bible study, and community. I reflected and I felt I didn’t need that particular plan in this season. But when the Lord pressed “90 days” on my heart, I thought about the announcement my pastor made. “It takes 90 days to form a habit,” he said. That’s when I realized God wasn’t asking me to follow this plan exactly. It was more about the opportunity to be even more intentional with my time, my heart posture, and my resources.
I want to enjoy every day that the Lord has made, regardless of what happens or how I’m feeling.
So I’m taking these next 90 days to be intentional. To seek the Lord above my desires, my thoughts, my feelings. To not question what He’s doing. To make more room for Him to move in my life. To fully let go of what I want and trust that He will make a way in the right time.
This doesn’t mean I change everything, but it allows me to let go of things outside of my control. It gives me permission to live in freedom, regardless of the distractions trying to grab my attention. I still start and continue my day in prayer, worship through my commute, and have my quiet time when I recharge after work. These things fill me. But I stop trying to work things out in my mind. I stop trying to control things that I will never have power over. And I decide what and how I invest my time and availability, with the Lord as my Source and my Guide. I follow His promptings before anything else.
These 90 days are for me to hone in on my decision-making skills and take ownership of my thought life. I’m working on kindly saying “no”, detoxing negative thought patterns, and giving my heart space to breathe and heal. I’m choosing to intentionally be single (and content with my choice) in this season. I’m refocusing my attention, not to what people say or what comes on my social media feeds, but to what the Lord has for me every day. I’m being present and available to what’s in front of me without losing focus on the Lord’s presence in my life. He is near…how quiet and still am I being to listen?
My church sends out a daily text at 9 AM with a particular habit to work on. While I’m not following their plan, the accountability helps remind me to stay focused on the Lord. The YouVersion Bible app sends me their verse of the day at 5 PM. I have been writing out daily prayers and I have invited a few friends to hold me accountable. Having a clear structure with visible and verbal reminders keeps me on track. If I’m going to take this habit-forming practice seriously, I’m going all in. Jesus didn’t call me to live in burnout. He called me to a life of peace and rest that can only be found in him.
Reflect
What habit(s) do you want to work on in your walk with Jesus? What will help you center your life on his joy in this season?
Would you take this 90-day challenge with me? Respond in the comments and I will pray and support you in this journey!
Click the link below to download my 90-day challenge organizer! You can print it out or use it digitally.
Consider the Joy 
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