If I were to tell you about all the ministries I’ve been a part of, we’d be here all day. So instead, I’m going to focus on a point in my walk with Christ when I started to derail—and how, instead of stepping back, I pushed through and kept serving. That was a mistake. A mistake the Lord forgave (just like many other sins along the road to discovery and repentance), but still, a mistake.
If you grew up in the church or are currently active in one, you may know all too well how easy it is for your calendar to be filled with team meetings, leadership gatherings, church events, and fellowship hangouts (my fave!). I’ve definitely experienced this on many levels—and if you served in a smaller church, you probably felt it tenfold.
Before diving into my personal story, I want to give some context around two key themes in this post:
Selah
A Hebrew word, most commonly found in the Psalms, understood to be a pause, a moment of reflection, or a musical interlude. What I love about this word is that its interpretation often depends on how you read it. It’s not always a direct translation, but rather a signal to stop, listen, or consider the meaning of what’s being said. It’s a call to contemplate God’s word—and where He’s leading us.
Colossians 3:23–24
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”
If you’ve ever served in ministry, you’ve probably heard this verse multiple times. Yes, I love it—and yes, I agree with it 100%—but I’ve also had it used out of context toward me. Growing up, I often heard the phrase, “You’re not saying no to us, you’re saying no to God.” Did that cause trauma? Oh yes. I still struggle with saying “no” because of that mindset. (PSA: If you’re a church leader reading this, please seek to be trauma-informed.)
Colossians is a letter Paul wrote to the church in Colossae to address teachings that were undermining the gospel and weakening their faith in Christ. It’s a letter that encourages believers to grow in Christ—to live lives of holiness, love, and forgiveness.
But here’s a question:
How can we live lives of holiness, love, and forgiveness if we don’t create space for the Lord to reveal where we’re lacking?
The reality is, busyness can be a form of distraction. And when we’re distracted, the enemy strikes. Busyness can also be a form of denial and avoidance—which can lead us into sin. A “no” can be holy, too.
1 Corinthians 10:23 says:
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive.”
Proverbs 4:25–27 says:
“Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked; keep your feet from following evil.”
Selah. Pause and reflect:
How are you really doing? Are you giving God space to move in your life—to shape in you a deeper desire for holiness, love, and forgiveness? Are your eyes fixed on pleasing Him over pleasing people?
Or has your calendar—whether filled with ministry or just life—left you too distracted to assess the state of your heart? Too caught up in the grind to even begin addressing what’s really going on inside?
There is good news for you, friend: Jesus is the Savior of the world—not you. Be used, be the light, but do not get caught up in a savior complex.
The next piece of good news is this: there is rest available to you.
When I was a young adult, I was on the worship team, the media team, co-overseeing the outreach wing of our church, and doing anything else I could help with at the time. I took on roles when people needed sabbaticals, and on top of that, I was going on service trips from about age 16 until 2018 (I’m 32 now).
(My deconstruction of mission trips is a post for another day.)
Anyway, girl, I was doing the most.
I was burnt out, tired, and frustrated. I needed rest—not only because I was physically exhausted but because my spirit had grown distant from the Lord.
The reality is that when you grow up in the Pentecostal church, you don’t hear much about how going to college is important, how building a career matters and is a form of honoring God, or how your family is your first ministry. So, because I didn't have children, my tired wasn't really understood. But girl, I was tired from trying to build my future! What we do here on earth until He returns for us MATTERS TOO.
When I left my childhood church, I caught a glimpse of that for the first time, but it wasn’t until I got married that I truly understood how important it is to Selah—to pause and reflect.
Friend, there is a season for everything.
Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a season for everything—and God does not want you to miss out on those seasons, including the ones of rest.
Fast forward to 2025. Around 2022–2023, I started attending my husband’s church and decided to join no teams. God Himself had to tell me that the season of rest was over.
Six months later, I joined one team, which then turned into three—including worship.
A few months ago, I felt the Lord tell me it was time to pull back a bit again—to avoid falling into the same habits and patterns of using busyness as a distraction.
I obeyed, spoke to my leaders (who were so supportive), and stepped down from two of those teams to be more present at home—as a wife, daughter, family member, and friend.
It was a decision I’m so glad I made, and now, I struggle less with guilt (we're in therapy, girl)—because “no” can be holy too.
I go back to my first question:
How are you really doing?
Are you giving God space to move in your life—to shape in you a deeper desire for holiness, love, and forgiveness?
Are your eyes fixed on pleasing Him over pleasing people?
Or has your calendar—whether filled with ministry or just life—left you too distracted to assess the state of your heart?
Too caught up in the grind to even begin addressing what’s really going on inside?
Selah. Pause, and reflect.
He loves us so much that He included rest in creation.
Love,
The Hem Community
