137 | Why Your Body Remembers Spiritual Weariness (And How to Release Feelings Gently)

Find the full episode here: LivingOnPurposeInChrist.com/blog

Feeling worn thin but still trying to hold everything together? In this episode, we open a gentle space to breathe, anchoring on Jesus’ words, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Not as a slogan, but as a lived promise that moves from the page into your body, your schedule, and your everyday rhythms at home and work.

We explore how hidden exhaustion often hides behind competence and steady yeses, and why rest in Scripture is more than time off—it is soul-level renewal. You’ll hear a simple Greek word study on anapauō (ἀναπαύω) and how it points to relief that restores what constant striving drains, along with biblical encouragement for the woman who loves God but feels spiritually tired. We talk about how abiding in Christ shifts us from performance to connection, and why a nervous system stuck on high alert can make prayer feel distant, even when your heart longs for God.

Along the way, we introduce a prayerful aroma practice—faith-filled aromatherapy that pairs scent with focused attention on Jesus. Because smell connects directly to the brain’s emotional center, gentle aromas and essential oils can support calm emotions and help quiet fight-or-flight so Scripture can settle in during your devotions. This is not therapy or a shortcut; it’s a simple, faith-rooted tool that honors how God designed us.

You’ll leave with doable steps—brief pauses, slow breaths, honest journaling, and a renewed posture of receiving rather than proving. If your soul needs a kind invitation, this conversation offers one, plus a thoughtful next step if you’re ready for guided support. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s weary, and leave a review to help others find a path to real rest with Jesus.

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Transcript

Invitation To Soul Rest

Paula Behrens 0:00

If you're feeling weary today, worn down by responsibilities, stretched thin by expectations, or quietly carrying burdens no one else sees, I want you to stay with me until the very end of this episode because at the close of our time together, I'm going to personally invite you into a gentle next step. And I believe for some of you listening here, it may be the doorway to the rest your soul has been craving. This podcast exists for believers who love Jesus, who want to live faithfully, and who desire a deeper, steadier connection with God in the middle of real life. Whether you're listening while answering emails, sitting at your desk, or stealing a quiet moment of solitude, I want you to know this space was created for you. Today we are anchoring ourselves in one of the most tender invitations Jesus ever spoke. These words are familiar, but that doesn't mean that we've fully entered into them. Jesus said, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. These words echo the heart of God revealed throughout Scripture. From the Psalms that speak of God as our refuge and strength, to the prophets who describe him as the one who gently gathers the weary, this invitation is not new. But when Jesus speaks it, he embodies it. He's not pointing us toward a method or a principle, he is offering himself. In a world that often celebrates the loud invisible, it's easy to feel as though your quiet acts of devotion go unnoticed. Yet Scripture assures us that God sees every hidden moment of faithfulness and he uses them to weave his redemptive story in ways we may never fully comprehend. If you're navigating past wounds, finding it challenging to practice grace in difficult relationships, or longing to see how God can use your seemingly small steps to create meaningful change, this podcast is for you. You want to grow closer to God, but your days are full and your devotional routine feels more like a struggle than a sanctuary? Well, that's where the Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour comes to the rescue. It's a personalized one-on-one session that will help you deepen your relationship with God in a way that truly fits your real life without the pressure or overwhelm. On a private Zoom call, we'll use the Aroma Freedom technique to identify what's weighing on your heart, uncover the beliefs beneath the stress, and invite Jesus to bring healing and alignment. Now, you might be thinking, how can that be? Well, you'll receive an essential oil sampler before our session to support this sacred journey. After the call, you'll have everything you need: a planning guide, a gospel reading schedule, a prayer journal, and practical guidance for using the aroma freedom technique in the privacy of your own home to quiet your mind, settle your spirit, and create space for prayer. Before you know it, your time with God will be something you're excited about again. Let's make your devotional life easy, meaningful, and refreshingly Christ centered. Book your Aroma of Christ coaching hour at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching. That's Paula Behrens B E H R E N S .com/coaching (no spaces). Look for a link in the show notes. All right, it's time to get started. Grab your Bible, dust off your journal, cozy up to your favorite beverage, and let's dive in. Many of the people I work alongside love God deeply. They are faithful, they pray, they serve, they show up, and yet they are tired in ways they sometimes don't like to admit. And so this kind of weariness is often invisible to others. It hides behind competence and responsibility. It lives beneath smiles and yeses. But here's the thing Scripture reminds us that even those who wait on the Lord can grow weary from time to time. The psalmist speaks openly about his soul being downcast within him, even while he still hopes in God. Elijah, after a great victory, collapses in exhaustion and despair. Martha, faithfully serving, becomes burdened and distracted while Mary sits at Jesus' feet. This is especially true for women who work from home or spend much of their time in quiet, unseen spaces. There is a unique kind of weariness that comes from carrying responsibility without much recognition. You may be balancing work, ministry, family, caregiving, or church involvement all within the same walls. The boundaries blur, the needs never seem to stop. And because you are capable, people often assume you are fine. But inside, you may be carrying a low-level exhaustion that never fully lifts. Scripture tells us that hope deferred makes the heart sick. Now, I'm thinking that there are probably many believers who are hope deferred. They are waiting, waiting for relief, waiting for clarity, waiting for rest. And I wonder why that is, because when Jesus says come to me, he's not adding another task to our list. He's not asking us to perform, achieve, or prove anything. He is simply offering himself. But sometimes we misinterpret rest as something we earn after everything else is done, except Jesus doesn't say, Come to me once you have figured it all out. He says, Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened. That means the tired ones are the invited ones. This matters deeply when we talk about living on purpose in Christ and reaching others for him. Jesus doesn't call us to minister from depletion, but from connection to him. Let us pause for a moment and look gently at one word Jesus uses in this passage. The word translated is rest in Matthew 11:28, and it comes from the Greek word anapauō (ἀναπαύω). In its simplest form, anapauō (ἀναπαύω) means rest, relief, or refreshment, but it carries more depth than physical rest alone. It refers to an inner peace, a settling, a relief that reaches the soul, not just the body. This aligns beautifully with how scripture speaks about rest. The psalms describe God as the one who leads us beside the still waters and restores our soul. The prophet Isaiah speaks of a resting place where the weary find refreshment. Hebrew speaks of a rest that remains for the people of God. This word, anapauō (ἀναπαύω), was often used to describe a release from labor, but also a renewal of strength. It is the kind of rest that does not merely stop activity, but restores what has been drained. It implies a deep exhale, a sense of being held rather than striving. What is especially meaningful is anapauō (ἀναπαύω) is something given, not something achieved. Jesus says, I will give you rest. This is not rest you manufacture through better time management or stronger discipline. It is rest you receive through relationship. For those of us who want to reach others for Christ, this is crucial. When our soul is rested in Jesus, our presence becomes peaceful. Our words carry weight without intimidation. Our life itself becomes an invitation. People are drawn not just to what we say about Christ, but to the quiet steadiness they sense within us. You know, we live in a culture that celebrates productivity, even in spiritual spaces. Many Christians feel pressure to serve more, volunteer more, know more, and do more. Over time, this can subtly shift our focus from abiding in Christ to performing for him. Jesus warned against this when he spoke of abiding in the vine. He made it clear that fruitfulness flows from dwelling with him, not striving on our own. If you are weary today, it may not be because you're doing something wrong. It may be because you are carrying things you were never meant to carry. Scripture invites us to lay our burdens at the foot of the cross. One of the reasons weariness lingers is because stress does not only live in our thoughts, though, it lives in our bodies. The Psalms speak of bones wasting away under unspoken sorrow. The proverbs remind us that a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Scripture consistently acknowledges the connection between inner life and physical experience. When you've been under pressure for a long time, your nervous system adapts. It stays on high alert. Even when you sit down to pray or read scripture, your body may not know how to settle. You may feel restless, distracted, or numb. This is where understanding how God designed our brains can be incredibly freeing. God created us as whole beings, mind, body, and spirit. They're all connected. When your body feels safe, your mind becomes clearer. When your nervous system calms, your heart becomes more receptive to God's presence. This is not unspiritual. This is how we are designed. One of the tools I use in my coaching practice is something called the Aroma Freedom Technique. I want to share just enough about it today to stir a little thoughtfulness in your soul. As your Christian coach, I facilitate the aroma freedom technique alongside Christian values. This gentle, prayerful practice uses aroma and focus to release deep emotional weight carried within. It's not therapy, nor is it a substitute for professional counseling. It is a faith-based tool designed to clear the way for you to hear God's voice more clearly. Scripture often uses fragrance as a symbol of God's presence and pleasure. The anointing oil in the Old Testament, the incense in the temple, the costly perfume poured out on Jesus' feet and then on his head, all point to the way God meets us through our senses. Here is why this technique is so effective. The part of your brain that processes smell is directly connected to the emotional center. This means scent bypasses logic and goes straight to memory and feelings. When a calming or grounding aroma is introduced intentionally while you are focused on God and gently naming what you are carrying, your nervous system begins to relax. As your body calms, your heart becomes more open to truth. Scripture moves from your head to your lived experience. Put simply, the aroma freedom technique with the Holy Spirit's guidance helps your body feel safe enough to release what it's been carrying. For the logical thinkers among us, neuroscience teaches us that when you are stressed, your brain releases chemicals that prepare you for danger. This is helpful in emergencies. But if over time your brain stays in survival mode, even when there is no immediate threat, it becomes harmful. Scripture describes this state as living in fear rather than faith. But God tells us repeatedly not to fear, because he is with us. And not only that, he's designed the aromas found in nature to soothe our senses, enabling us to release that fight or flight instinct when truly there's nothing to fear. God wants us to feel peaceful, not only spiritually, but also physically. Gentle sensory input, like aroma, signals safety to the brain. It tells your nervous system that it's okay to rest. When that happens, the part of your brain responsible for reflection, prayer, and connection becomes more active. This is why some people struggle to feel God's presence when they are overwhelmed. It's not because God is distant, it's because their nervous system is exhausted. When we create space for the body to calm, the soul often follows. Here is the beautiful truth. Rested people are approachable people, peaceful people are compelling witnesses. When you are living from a place of inner rest, you listen better, you notice people more, you are less reactive and more compassionate. Your faith feels real, not forced. This is especially powerful for those who work from home or spend much of their time in everyday environments. Your influence often happens in small relational moments, a conversation, a kind word, a calm presence. People are not just watching what you believe, they are watching how you carry your life. When you allow Jesus to meet you in your weariness and receive his healing touch, you become a living testimony to his gentleness. When Jesus says, Come to me, it's not a one-time invitation. It's a daily rhythm. It is learning how to pause in the middle of your day and breathe. It is learning how to notice when your body is tense and gently inviting it to settle. It is learning how to bring your whole self to God, not just your polished prayers. This is something I help women practice in coaching, not in a rushed or formulaic way, but in a way that fits their real lives. We explore how to create small, sustainable rhythms of rest. We look at what is draining you and what is restoring you. We listen for where God is already at work and we do it gently. If you are tired today, I want you to know that Jesus sees you. He knows the weight you are carrying, and he is calling you closer. As I promised, I want to personally invite you to take a gentle next step. I'd love to meet with you. I'm offering a free 15-minute discovery call, a simple, unhurried conversation where you can talk about what you've been carrying, what you're longing for, and whether Christian coaching might be a helpful support for you in this season. And there's no obligation, just space to breathe, reflect, and listen together. You can book your free session by visiting my website at paulabehrens.com#discoverycall. That's Paula Behrens B-E-H-R-E-N-S .com # discovery call (no spaces). Okay, friend. I would be honored to walk with you into a place where we can slow down, invite Jesus into the middle of it all, and take one small doable next step toward peace and clarity together. Thank you for tuning in today. And remember, just like setting biblical boundaries, it's okay to say no to things that don't serve you well, like that third piece of cake at the church potluck. If you were blessed by this episode, be sure to share it with a friend and leave a review so that we can reach even more listeners like you. Check the show notes for all the links. Join us next week as we continue to discover how to live on purpose in Christ. Until then, keep leaning in to Him and walking in His Wisdom. See you next time.