October 30
The Price
of Overwork
"Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’"
Mark 6:31 (NIrV)
Lucy had always been known as the life of the party. In the office, she was the one who brought everyone together, rallying the team with infectious enthusiasm. Out of the office, she was the friend everyone called when they wanted a good time. She could juggle work, social life, and everything in between with ease—or so it seemed.
Over the past year, though, things had started to change. The workload at her job had grown heavier, with more projects and tighter deadlines than ever before. The demands from her friends hadn’t let up either; every weekend there was a new invitation, a new event, a new chance to let loose and show everyone a good time. Lucy loved it. She thrived on being needed, on being at the center of it all. But it came at a cost.
With so much to do, Lucy had started burning the candle at both ends. She would work late into the night, fueled by energy drinks and the occasional stimulant to keep her going. Sleep became a luxury she didn’t have time for, and when she did sleep, it was rarely more than three hours. Her body was exhausted, but she ignored it. She pushed through the fatigue, thinking that if she could just get through this deadline, or make it through one more party, she could rest later.
But eventually, the "later" never came. One Tuesday morning, during a big presentation at work, Lucy felt it. The dizziness, the overwhelming fatigue, the tightness in her chest. She barely made it through her slides before everything went dark.
When she woke up, she was in a hospital bed, the bright lights above blinding her eyes. Her heart was racing. Her hands shook as she reached for her phone. It wasn’t a text or an email that caught her eye first, though—it was the missed calls. Dozens of them, from friends, from work, from people she didn’t have the energy to talk to.
The doctors had a simple diagnosis: burnout.
Sitting in that sterile hospital room, Lucy realized how far she’d pushed herself. Her work, her friends, her need to always be "on" had left her physically and emotionally drained. In her quest to be everything to everyone, she had forgotten about herself.
As the days passed, Lucy started to think more about her life. She had always seen herself as strong, invincible even—but in reality, her strength had come from doing the exact opposite of what she needed: taking on more and more, never stopping to rest, never pausing to listen to the stillness inside her.
One evening, as she sat in her quiet hospital room, Lucy thought back to a verse she had read once. She wasn’t sure when or where, but it had always stuck with her: "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."
She realized how much she had neglected her own need for rest and balance. In her desire to keep pushing forward, she had ignored the wisdom in those words—words that weren’t just meant for Jesus’ disciples, but for everyone who was weary.
With a soft sigh, Lucy closed her eyes and prayed, "God, I’ve been so caught up in doing everything and being everything to everyone that I’ve forgotten to listen to what I really need. Please help me to find rest in You. Help me to learn how to take care of myself, to slow down, and to trust that You’ll provide what I need, even in the quiet moments."
Lucy knew that her journey wasn’t going to be easy. But she was ready to start. Ready to take a step back, to find rest, and to be renewed—not just for others, but for herself and for God’s plan for her life.
Prayer:
Dear God,
I come before You, weary and worn, acknowledging how often I’ve pushed myself beyond what I can handle.
I’ve gotten caught up in the noise and the demands of life, thinking that I could keep going without rest.
But now, I see how much I need You—how much I need Your peace and Your rest.
Help me, Lord, to find balance in my life.
Teach me to rest when I need it and to trust You with all the things I feel I need to control.
I want to learn to take care of my body, mind, and soul, so that I can be more present with You and with others.
Thank You for Your grace, for understanding my struggles, and for always being there to guide me toward what is truly important.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
