God’s Got You: Learning to Rest When You’re Used to Doing It All

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent most of your life being the strong and independent one. You’re the fixer, the planner, the dependable one, the one who figures it all out on her own, and who always holds it down.

So when you began your relationship with God and He started calling you to rest in Him, rely on him, lean on Him, and trust Him... those things felt hard for you because for so long, you've only known how to depend on yourself. If this resonates with you, know that you're not alone and that God sees you. He understands that inner struggle you're having; He just wants you to believe Him when He says that He's got you!

Resting Is Trusting

It sounds simple, but if we’re honest, most of us struggle to rest because we’re afraid to let go. We hesitate to pause because we think everything might fall apart if we do. We’re so used to stepping in, fixing things, and carrying the weight of our responsibilities that we’ve convinced ourselves that if we don’t show up, no one else will.

But that’s not the truth. That’s fear. That’s control. And that’s exhausting.

Let’s look at Martha's story for a second in Luke 10:38-42. When Jesus came to her home, she got to work making sure she was the best host she could be. And to be honest, if Jesus came to my home, I would probably want to do the same thing. I’d be fluffing pillows, straightening up, asking what He wants to eat, and getting to work preparing it, making sure it's the best meal I've ever cooked. So, I understand where Martha was coming from. I understand why she got busy trying to serve and making sure everything was in order when Jesus came to her home.

But while she was doing all of that, her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus' feet -- resting, listening, and just being with Him.

And that's what Jesus calls us to do. He calls us to rest in His presence even when the culture around us, the circumstances in front of us, and everything else prompts us to strive.

This is what Jesus told Martha as she came up to Him, hoping He would get her sister to help her:

"...My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." ~ Luke 10:41-42

Martha’s busyness came from a desire to serve, but it also came from a space of stepping into a role that felt familiar to her—the role of the person who takes care of things when no one else does and always holds things down. She stepped into her role instead of recognizing that in the presence of Jesus, she could rest.

Let this be your reminder that you too can rest in the presence of Jesus. Now that you have Jesus, you don't have to be the strong one all the time. You can trust your Heavenly Father to hold what you’ve been holding.

You can trust Him to have your back.

You can trust Him to take care of you.

You can rest in Him.

So What Does That Look In Practice?

Resting in God doesn’t always mean doing nothing. Sometimes, it just means doing less—and trusting more. It means:

• Praying instead of overthinking,

• Saying no without guilt,

• Taking a break before the breakdown,

• Believing that God is working even when you can’t see it.

It also means reminding yourself that you don't have to do it all, that you just have to do what God is asking of you right now.