There’s really nothing worse than a dried-out brisket. You can smother it in BBQ sauce all you want, but once it’s tough and overcooked, there’s no going back. Unfortunately, a lot of us live our lives the same way—overcooked, overextended, and bone dry.
I passed out saltine crackers during church this week—yes, really. They were a simple but sobering illustration. Saltines are dry, bland, and they soak up every bit of moisture in your mouth. Kind of like the way life can soak up your energy and joy. Between work deadlines, kids’ schedules, social media, financial pressure, and keeping up appearances… it adds up fast.
And even though your calendar is full, your soul can feel empty.
Maybe you’ve asked yourself, “Is this it? Is this the life God meant for me?”
You’re not alone. Many of us are weary, worn out, and desperately trying to do more, be better, keep up.
But what if life isn’t about trying harder?
Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30:
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… you will find rest for your souls.”
That’s not just physical rest. It’s rest from striving. Rest from pretending. Rest from the pressure to prove your worth. Jesus doesn’t hand out more rules—He gives us Himself.
He gives us the Holy Spirit.
In Galatians 5, the Apostle Paul unpacks what it means to walk by the Spirit instead of the flesh. When we rely on our own strength, we default to anger, jealousy, selfishness, and burnout. But when we stay connected to Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to produce something else entirely:
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)
That’s not behavior modification. That’s heart transformation.
Here’s the truth:
Real fruit doesn’t come from trying harder—it comes from staying connected to Jesus.
Anyone can fake behavior. But you can’t fake the fruit of the Spirit. It shows up in your responses, your relationships, and your daily rhythms.
I learned this the hard way. Years ago, I carried around a hidden anger that I tried to mask behind a smile and a “pastor voice.” But eventually I broke. And when I did, God didn’t scold me—He met me. The transformation didn’t happen overnight, but it started with surrender.
The invitation still stands today:
Jesus is calling you out of burnout and into rest.
Out of performance and into presence.
Out of dryness and into fullness.
So how do you begin?
Start here: each morning, before your feet hit the ground, simply pray:
“Holy Spirit, lead me today.”
Let your life sync up to heaven’s heartbeat. You’ll be amazed what starts to grow.
