Learning to Stop Without Giving Up
There is a voice many of us carry into motherhood that says slowing down means we’re giving up.
That resting means we’re falling behind.
That pausing means we’re quitting on our responsibilities, our calling, or even our faith.
I’ve felt that voice grow louder in seasons where my capacity shrank—postpartum days, sleepless nights, and moments when my body and soul simply asked for less.
But rest is not quitting.
And slowing down is not the same thing as surrendering your calling.
When Rest Feels Like Failure
Rest can feel uncomfortable, especially in a world that celebrates productivity.
When there are children to care for, lessons to teach, meals to make, and a home to manage, stopping feels irresponsible. Even sinful. As if faithfulness is measured by how much we can carry without breaking.
But Scripture shows us a different picture.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
Psalm 23:2–3 (ESV)
Restoration is not something we stumble into by accident. Sometimes God leads us there—especially when we would rather keep pushing.
Jesus Never Rushed
One of the most overlooked truths about Jesus is how unhurried He was.
He stepped away from crowds.
He withdrew to quiet places.
He rested before moving into what was next.
“And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’”
Mark 6:31 (ESV)
Jesus did not rest because the work was finished.
He rested because rest was necessary.
If the Son of God made space for rest, we do not honor Him by exhausting ourselves.
Rest as an Act of Trust
At its core, rest is not about productivity—it’s about trust.
Rest says:
I believe God can sustain what I step away from.
I believe I don’t have to control everything.
I believe my worth isn’t tied to constant output.
When we refuse to rest, often it’s not because we’re strong, but because we’re afraid—afraid things will fall apart if we stop.
But Scripture reminds us,
“Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
Psalm 127:1 (ESV)
Rest is a quiet way of acknowledging that God is the one holding everything together.
Rest Looks Different in Every Season
Rest doesn’t always mean long stretches of silence or uninterrupted quiet. Especially in motherhood, rest is often fragmented and imperfect.
Sometimes rest looks like:
- Sitting down even when the mess is still there
- Choosing connection over completion
- Saying no to what you could do to protect what you need
- Letting your day be “enough” without maximizing it
Rest is not passivity. It’s responsiveness to what your body, heart, and season require.
You Are Not Behind
If you are in a season where rest feels forced—where your body, mind, or circumstances won’t let you run at your old pace—you are not being set back.
You are being cared for.
“And the LORD said, ‘My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.’”
Exodus 33:14 (ESV)
God does not rush us through healing. He walks with us through it.
For the Mom Afraid to Stop
If you’re afraid that resting means you’re giving up…
If you feel guilty every time you slow down…
If you worry that choosing rest means choosing less faithfulness…
Hear this clearly:
Rest is not quitting.
Rest is not weakness.
Rest is not disobedience.
Sometimes, rest is the most faithful choice you can make.
And in that rest, God is still working.
Living Life with a Purpose 