Life today can feel like a marathon. We work, we parent, we clean, we juggle schedules, spend hours a day on the phone with the insurance company, and we try to stay connected to friends and family. For many parents, tiredness becomes the background noise of everyday life. Yet in the middle of the busyness, God calls us to slow down, to rest, and to find peace in Him.
As I write this, I hear my son playing happily with magna-tiles beside me. Those small, ordinary moments remind me that even when I’m exhausted, my life is full of blessings. Still, exhaustion is real. It’s not always easy to find time to recharge, and rest doesn’t just happen—it takes intentional planning.
I want to share five ways that I have handled tiredness and discover joy, even when life feels overwhelming.
1. Give Time to God Every Day
One of the most powerful antidotes to exhaustion is time with God. When we are spiritually empty, even the smallest daily challenges feel overwhelming. But when I pause long enough to hear His Word, I’m reminded that I’m not carrying life’s burdens alone.
Sometimes that looks like sitting in the chapel at my child’s school, enjoying the message, and singing hymns with the school children. Other days, it’s folding laundry while a Christian podcast plays in the background. At night, when the house finally quiets down, I might open my Bible and read just a few verses or have family devotions with my husband and kids. Those little moments are what restore me.
Even Jesus modeled this rhythm—stepping away from the crowd to pray and rest with His Father (Mark 1:35). And He invites us to do the same:
📖 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)11:28)
2. Go for a Walk and Enjoy God’s Creation
It may sound simple, but walking is one of the best ways to reset both body and mind. Even in cold or rainy weather, a walk can:
- Clear mental clutter
- Improve your mood and energy
- Help you notice God’s creation all around you
When I’m drained, the last thing I want to do is bundle up and head outside, especially when it’s cold. Yet every time I do, I come back refreshed. There’s something about walking—the the feel of fresh air and body movement that helps your mental clarity.
3. Change Your Mindset with Grace
I’ll be honest: when I’m tired, my thoughts often spiral downward. I criticize myself, I assume the worst, and I let little frustrations grow larger than they should. This wears me down even further. But God doesn’t want me to live there.
Instead, I try to pause and shift my thinking. Sometimes I remind myself of three good things about the person I’m frustrated with. Other times, I repeat a Bible verse until it sinks in. One of my favorites is Philippians 4:8:
“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
It doesn’t erase the stress, but it helps me to put things back into perspective—and to extend grace, both to others and to myself.
4. Remember Your Family Is Your Nearest Neighbor
When life gets hectic, the people closest to me often feel the sharpest edge of my tiredness. I’ll snap at my kids, sigh at my spouse, or let impatience get the better of me. Yet these are the very people God has entrusted me to love most.
Ephesians 4:32 reminds me:
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
So I try—imperfectly, but daily—to forgive quickly and let go of grudges before bed. My family doesn’t need me to be perfect; they need me to love, to forgive, and to move forward in peace.
Be Honest About Your Boundaries
One of the most freeing lessons I’ve learned is that it’s okay to admit when I’m tired. God never asked us to run endlessly without rest. Even Jesus took time away from the crowds.
Sometimes that means telling my spouse, “I need half an hour to recharge.” Other times, it means saying no to an activity so that I don’t stretch myself too thin. And yes, it even means carving out space for friends. Friendships aren’t supposed to feel like burdens—they’re meant to bring laughter, joy, and refreshment.
As Proverbs 17:17 reminds us:
📖 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”
Honesty about boundaries creates healthier relationships, at home and with friends. It lets us give our best selves rather than our most depleted selves.
Closing Thought: Rest Is Good
Life is full, and yes, we are tired. But being tired doesn’t mean we are failing—it means we are human. From the very beginning, God designed a rhythm of work and rest:
📖 “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” (Genesis 2:2)
Rest is not wasted. Rest is needed and designed. And when we make space for God, for nature, for grace, for forgiveness, and for honest boundaries, we discover that even in our exhaustion, joy is still possible.
So tonight, when the kids are asleep and the house grows quiet, take a deep breath. Thank God for the fullness of your life.