Rest Isn’t Running—It’s Readiness

Let’s be honest.

Sometimes being around people feels like trying to dance in a hurricane. You want to move with grace, but everything is loud and fast, and your soul just wants stillness.

I love connection. But I also crave moments where no one needs anything from me.

And this week—after fighting off congestion, feeling overstimulated from recent travel, and facing the countdown to a major trip—I realized I had nothing left to give outwardly. Not tonight.

So I stayed home.

Resting with Intention

There’s often this unspoken guilt tied to skipping church, especially for those of us who want to stay spiritually grounded. But I’ve come to believe that God doesn’t equate rest with absence.

“Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” —Mark 6:31 (NIV)

Jesus wasn’t afraid to pull His disciples away from the crowd.

He didn’t demand constant engagement.

He invited them to pause.

So tonight, I took that same invitation. Not because I’m “falling off” spiritually, but because I’m learning to listen to the rhythm of grace over guilt.

Prepping for Hope (and a Lot of Movement)

Next week, I fly to Korea.

Not for the first time—but for the first time with this much emotional weight attached.

I’m going to see J-Hope’s “Hope on the Stage” concert. Twice.

During Festa Week, no less.

While four BTS members are getting discharged from the military.

The energy, emotion, and movement will be constant. And beautiful. And exhausting.

Anyone who’s traveled internationally—especially with a packed itinerary—knows it’s no joke.

The walking. The adapting. The constant decision-making. The time zones.

It takes stamina. It takes presence. It takes preparation.

And part of that preparation? Resting now.

Not crashing mid-trip. Not pushing through this week only to unravel later.

“Don’t burn tomorrow’s energy trying to please today’s expectations.” —Morgan Harper Nichols

You Can’t Pour If You’re Empty

I was talking to a friend recently who soaks up everyone’s emotions.

She carries conversations like bricks. She listens deeply—but forgets to release.

And I saw a version of myself in her.

Because yes, I believe in compassion.

But I also believe in limits.

Even Jesus didn’t heal everyone at once.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” —Galatians 6:2

That doesn’t mean take it all on.

It means walk alongside others without losing yourself in the process.

“Empathy without boundaries is self-destruction in slow motion.” —Dr. Thema Bryant

Tonight, I knew that even well-meaning conversations would cost me too much.

So I drew the line.

🌿 Soul Insights 🌿

1. Rest is a form of preparation.

It’s not a sign you’re falling behind—it’s how you stay aligned. When you rest, you make room for clarity, healing, and direction. You’re not wasting time; you’re building the strength to carry what’s coming next. Preparation doesn’t always look like movement—sometimes it looks like stillness on purpose.

2. You’re allowed to say no without explanation.

You don’t need a long speech or a perfectly-worded excuse to justify your boundaries. A quiet no—rooted in wisdom—is more powerful than a resentful yes. If you burn out trying to please everyone, you won’t have the capacity to fulfill your actual purpose. Saying no is how you protect your yes.

3. People will keep asking.

There will always be another favor, another invitation, another opportunity to overextend yourself. And if you’re not intentional, your energy will be spent reacting instead of responding. The world won’t always know your limits—that’s your job. Saying yes to everything is often just a detour from what truly matters.

4. You’re not wired to carry it all.

Even Jesus needed naps, solitude, and space to pray. Empathy is beautiful, but empathy without boundaries turns into quiet suffering. You can walk with someone without absorbing their pain. Let God be the burden-bearer—your job is to listen, love, and then let go.

5. Protect your spark.

When you’re constantly giving, you need just as much time to refill what’s been poured out. But even a lighthouse needs maintenance or it stops shining. Protecting your spark means scheduling rest like you would any serious meeting. It means treating your energy like it’s valuable—because it is.

💭 Final Thoughts

Tonight, I stayed in.

Not because I’m falling behind spiritually.

But because I’m finally aligned.

Korea is coming.

Hope on the Stage is coming.

A wave of joy, movement, and memory is coming.

And I want to meet it ready—body, mind, and spirit.

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” —Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

So I release the guilt.

I honor the rhythm.

And I remind myself (and maybe you too): staying in isn’t missing out.

Sometimes, it’s the strongest move you can make.

💬 Let’s Talk

Have you ever chosen rest and felt that guilt creep in anyway?

What season are you preparing for right now?

Drop a comment or message me—I want to hear how you’re protecting your peace while holding space for your purpose.

Soul Path Insights