How to Find Strength When You Feel Behind

Can I be honest with you about something?

There is never a point where we just arrive and have it all figured out. Not for me, not for you, not for anyone. We are all a work in progress, and trading pressure for peace is not a one-time decision. It is a daily practice that we have to choose over and over again.

I know that because I have been living it. Since starting this YouTube journey a few weeks ago, I caught myself falling right back into the trap I warn others about. Chasing strategy. Trying to have the perfect hook. Editing out the parts of me that are just, well, me. And friend, that is not who I want to be for you.

So in this week’s blog I am pulling back the curtain and sharing three steps that have helped me stop chasing my to-do list and start rebuilding my strength again. I think this is going to be exactly what you need today.

Our Anchor Verse

Before we dive in, I want to start with the verse that has stopped me in my tracks more times than I can count. It is Matthew 11:28, and it says:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

The Lord is not asking you to carry this alone. He never was. And everything we are about to talk about flows from that one truth.

Step One: Connect to the Source

When we are feeling the weight of pressure, it is almost always because we have been trying to do it all in our own strength. And we were never meant to carry that burden alone.

Let me share a story that brought this to life for me in a really unexpected way.

Last year my husband and I bought a travel trailer. On our very first trip home, we were heading downhill on a steep decline when a notification popped up on the screen that said “Trailer brakes disconnected.” My heart dropped. We pulled over, my husband checked everything, got us back on the highway, and not even two miles later it happened again.

It turned out the brakes were completely fine. The problem was corrosion on the plug. The connection itself had corroded.

And that story is such a picture of so many of us. We are going through the motions of doing life as a Christian, sprinkling a little Jesus here and there, but we are not fully plugged in. And when that happens, the load feels heavier than it ever has to be.

The yoke the Lord gives us is not heavy. But we have to be connected to feel the difference.

What Staying Connected Actually Looks Like

Connecting to the source is not complicated, but it does require intention. Here is what it practically looks like:

Carving out quiet time with the Lord every single day
Fixing your eyes on Jesus instead of on your to-do list
Slowing your pace down to something that might look a little unrecognizable to the world around you
Asking yourself regularly: where am I relying on my own strength, and how can I surrender that to the Lord instead?

And that last one is exactly the point. We are called to be different. If people look at our lives and see the same frantic, burned-out pace as everyone else, how will they ever know that something is different about us?

Step Two: Strengthen the Vessel

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says: “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself. For God bought you with a high price, so you must honor God with your body.”

We cannot pour from an empty cup. And so many of us are running on empty because we spend so much time taking care of everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves. We carry the mental load for the family. We do the scheduling, the planning, the feeding, the serving. We add a business on top of it. And then we wonder why we feel like we are always behind.

Here is what I heard at a speaking event recently that stopped me in my tracks: the reward for good works is more work. When the Lord is pleased with what you are doing, He is going to give you more to do. Which means we have to be good stewards of the vessel He has given us so we actually have the capacity to carry what He calls us to.

The Practical Pieces That Matter

Strengthening your vessel is not glamorous but it is essential. Here are the non-negotiables:

Sleep: Get enough of it. A tired body cannot carry a full life well.
Nourishment: Fuel your body with food that actually gives you energy instead of draining it.
Movement: Move your body every day, even if it is just a short walk around the block.
Alone time: Protect your quiet time, especially if you are a mama. This is not selfish. It is stewardship.
Nervous system regulation: Many of us are living in a constant state of fight or flight without even realizing it. Something as simple as intentional breathing can start to shift your body out of that overstimulated state. We are going to dive much deeper into this in a future blog.

Something that has been really eye-opening for me personally is that working out consistently did not make exercise easier. But it made me stronger. And I could withstand more pressure. That is the exact same thing that happens when we exercise our spiritual walk. Life does not necessarily get easier, but we get stronger.

Step Three: Live From Overflow

Here is the beautiful thing about steps one and two. When you connect to the source and strengthen your vessel, overflow is just what naturally happens next. You do not have to manufacture it. You do not have to force it. You just have to stay connected, take care of yourself, and the Holy Spirit does the rest.

And when you are living from overflow, it shows up everywhere:

In how you speak to your family
In how you show up for your clients
In your thoughts, your actions, and your energy
In the patience you have at the end of a long day
In the joy that starts to come naturally instead of feeling forced

The people around you do not deserve what is left of you at the end of the day. They deserve the best of you. And the only way to give them your best is to stop running on empty and start living from that place of overflow.

Pressure Is a Signal, Not a Life Sentence

Any time you feel like you are operating from pressure instead of peace, that is your indicator. The connection has gotten a little corroded. Go back to step one. Plug back in. Let Him carry the weight with you.

Because the load is not going away. But it is supposed to feel lighter. And when it does not, it is almost always because we have disconnected from the One who actually makes it light.

Your Challenge This Week

Choose one small action you are going to take after reading this. Just one. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Spend 10 to 15 minutes in quiet time with Jesus today
Go to bed 30 minutes earlier tonight
Eat a more nourishing meal than you were planning on
Take a walk and just let your mind rest
Call a friend and talk through something you have been carrying alone

Whatever you feel led to do, do it. This is not about overwhelming you with a list of everything you are not doing well. It is simply an invitation to take one small step back toward connection, toward strength, toward overflow.

Because your to-do list is never going to end, friend. And honestly, that is a good thing. It means you have a life full of things that matter. But we have to stop letting it chase us and start letting the Lord lead us through it.

A Note Before You Go

Friend, you are not meant to do life and business alone. God never intended that for you. And if you are a Christian female entrepreneur looking for vetted coaches and service providers who actually share your biblical values, I would love for you to check out Purpose Pages. It is a completely free online Christian business directory where you can find trusted support for every area of your life and business.

This is also just the beginning. We are kicking off a brand new series all about capacity, and over the next few weeks we are going to be going deeper into physical, spiritual, and mental capacity. I am so excited to keep this conversation going with you.

Come hang out with us here every single week, and I cannot wait to see you in the next blog post.

Related Episodes:

How to Create More Margin in Your Life and Business:

Resources:

Purpose Pages Directory – A free, vetted online directory to help you find Christian coaches and service providers you can trust.
Follow Purpose Pages on Instagram – Find trusted Christian providers and connect with a community that gets you.
The Purpose Gathering Live (Waitlist) – A Spirit-led day to refocus, reconnect & recharge in Downtown Gilbert, AZ. Live worship, speaker sessions, guided reflection, and intentional connection with faith-driven women in business. Grab your ticket
Join the Faith-Fueled Fireside on August 13th at 10AM (AZ Time) – This virtual gathering is an opportunity to connect with like minded mamas who are ready to trade hustle for peace this season.
Join the Free Purpose Gathering Community – A welcoming space for Christian mompreneurs to connect, grow, and be encouraged in both life and business.
Ideal Week Blueprint — A mini course that walks you through how to create your ideal week, including personal templates and examples.
The Armor of God – Bible Study for Women with Video Access
Grace Over Grind: How Grace Will Take Your Business Where Grinding Can’t
Have a question for me? Or a specific struggle you’re dealing with? I’ll address your question on the podcast. Submit your ‘Ask Ashley’ question here.
Please connect with me on Instagram @thepurposegathering.