From Performance to Peace: How to Cease from Striving and Overcome Burnout in your Faith

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

Hebrews 4:10

Are you struggling to measure up and feel that no matter what progress you make in yourself, it’s never good enough? Do you have high standards for yourself and others? Are you struggling to find rest and lack joy in your walk with God? If your answer is yes to any of these questions, you may have a performance mentality and are on a verge of burnout.

A performance mentality is a mindset that seeks to gain acceptance, approval or worthiness by what he/she can work at or accomplish. This can be a major hindrance in your walk with God because it cancels the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The gospel message and all that God has promised us are based on His power and not ours. I see a lot of people shaking their fists at God or at people because they want them to come and DO SOMETHING about their problems. The constant failure, constant warfare, trauma and setbacks has made them hardened in their hearts and wounded in their souls. They fail to realize the power and rest available to them by simple faith in Christ.

Jesus died for this very reason. The chastisement of our peace was put upon him so that we may gain access to those things the enemy has tried to take from us and those things we can’t get on our own. Whether it be to get wealth, sustain our health or security of life we need God to do it. We are not self-sufficient.

There is a war for your soul, but you must run into the arms of the One who can DO SOMETHING about your problems and stop trying to fix it yourself. Sure, easier said than done, but it’s a turning point once you grasp this revelation. Let patience have her perfect work in you and be still.

There is a place called peace and it’s available right now. It is a place in God where all your fears, what ifs, what didn’t happen, what needs to happen and the trauma you’ve experienced are nailed to the cross for Jesus to deal with. In this place you will find safety, freedom and validation to just be you. No matter what state you are in. Receive it now. Look in the mirror at the person you are today and face her! She may make mistakes, she may not be where you want her, but she is loved by God and it is time for you to do the same. Yes, you have a call on your life for more, yes, you have a lot of work to do, but your heart needs time to heal. You need healing from the hurt and trauma you have faced that has made you feel like you have to work for acceptance and approval. You must dig up the root. You no longer need to prove yourself, you no longer need validation from others to be you, you no longer have to sin to comfort yourself. All you need to know is that God has accepted you and loves you no matter what. He is your biggest cheerleader and the best life coach you’ll ever have. Just because you disappoint him doesn’t mean you have been rejected or disqualified. Repentance is available as well.

Get up and move forward. Every day brings new mercies and a fresh opportunity to get it right with God. There is new life available for you and there is a holy resuscitation available to you when you seem lifeless and spent. May CPR be given to you now. Christ’s Powerful Resurrection. Tap into that power now. It is the power to rise again, the spirit of might, the capability to accomplish, God’s miraculous power and a hope of eternal glory. Be happy in your soul and rest well knowing your future is not on you. Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).