The Art of Doing Nothing (and Why Your Soul Loves It)
Introduction
Have you ever sat down for a moment, just a moment, only to be flooded with guilt? That nagging voice whispers, “You should be doing something.”
There’s laundry in the dryer. Emails waiting. A house that won’t clean itself. And if you have a free minute, shouldn’t you be using it to “work on yourself,” get ahead, plan dinner, or finally organize that closet?
Sound familiar?
For so many of us, especially as women, caretakers, nurturers, and doers, rest can feel like a foreign language. We’ve been praised for our hustle, rewarded for our productivity, and defined by how much we accomplish. But somewhere along the way, we started wearing exhaustion like a badge of honor… and forgot that we were never created to run on empty.
And yet, your soul is tired. Not just from the tasks or the to-do lists… but from never stopping.
There is a quiet, holy invitation woven into this season of life: What if doing nothing is the most nourishing thing you could do right now?
A Resurrection-Sized Reminder
This Easter Sunday, as we pause to remember the empty tomb, the miracle that changed everything, maybe it’s also time to reflect on the quiet moments that hold their own kind of importance.
Jesus didn’t rush out of the grave. He didn’t hurry back to prove anything.
Instead, He appeared slowly, intentionally, to those He loved. He shared meals. He walked beside His friends. There was no striving. Only presence.
And maybe that’s our invitation, too.
To stop striving. To rest in grace. To remember that new life often begins in stillness, not in hustle.
The Lies We’ve Believed About Rest
We’ve been conditioned to believe that rest must be earned. That we have to push hard enough, suffer long enough, or check every box before we’re allowed to pause. And even then, we carry the guilt.
We think:
“There’s too much to do.”
“I should be more productive.”
“Rest is lazy.”
“Everyone else seems to have it together.”
But the truth is, constantly pouring out without receiving leads us to exactly what we’re trying to avoid: Burnout. Resentment. Disconnection. Anxiety. Physical breakdown.
You don’t have to hit rock bottom to decide that rest is crucial to our wellness.
Why Your Soul is Craving Stillness
If you feel like you’ve lost yourself somewhere along the way… stillness is where you’ll find her again.
That girl who used to dream. The woman who used to laugh - deep, belly laughs.
The one who felt grounded in her body, connected to God, and in love with the present moment.
She’s not gone. She’s just buried under a mountain of expectations.
And she is craving space.
Not another self-improvement plan. Not another to-do list or productivity hack.
Just space to breathe. Space to hear herself think. Space to be still and know.
Rest Isn’t Laziness.
Doing nothing might feel rebellious at first. Especially when your identity has been wrapped up in taking care of everyone else.
But you are worthy of rest.
Not because you’ve finished the list. Not because you “earned it.” But because you are human. Loved. Created with limits. Designed for rhythm.
Even God rested.
So if your soul exhales when you slow down, it’s not coincidence. It’s confirmation.
How to Practice the Art of Doing Nothing
This isn’t about collapsing on the couch while doom-scrolling (though no shame if you do). This is about sacred stillness. Soulful pauses. Holy ground in the middle of your real life.
Here are gentle ways to begin:
1. Schedule It (Yes, Really.) Block 10-15 minutes a day and label it “nothing.” Don’t fill it. Don’t plan it. Just show up. Maybe with tea. Maybe with silence. Just… be.
2. Step Outside Without a Goal Take a slow walk. Watch the clouds. Listen to the birds. No podcast. No power-walking. Just noticing. Just being.
3. Lay on the Floor Yes. The floor. Let your body release the tension it’s holding. Let the earth hold you. It’s oddly comforting and surprisingly sacred.
4. Light a Candle and Sit Do nothing else. Watch the flicker. Let it be a symbol of stillness and surrender.
5. Say a Prayer. Or Just Breathe. Let your breath be your prayer. No fancy words. Just exhale the heavy. Inhale the holy.
What You’ll Find in the Quiet
If you’re weary, not just physically, but soul-deep weary, please hear this:
You don’t have to do more to be enough. You don’t have to earn rest. You don’t have to keep holding it all together.
You can step outside. You can sit in the quiet. You can sip your tea slowly.
You can lie in the grass and feel the sun on your face.
And the world won’t fall apart.
In fact, it just might fall into place.
Let This Resurrection Sunday Be Your Permission Slip
So if you're weary, body aching, heart stretched thin, spirit quietly begging for a pause, this is your reminder:
You don’t have to do more to prove your worth. You don’t have to keep striving to feel seen. You don’t have to carry everything on your own.
Before the stone rolled away, before the new beginning, there was stillness. Sacred, holy, quiet stillness.
And maybe that’s what this season is gently asking of you, too.
Not to sprint. Not to hustle. But to sit in the peace that’s already been given.
To let grace wrap around your tired shoulders like a soft blanket. To believe that even in the quiet… healing is happening. To remember that God is at work, even when you are not.
So go ahead, light the candle. Step outside. Lay on the floor if you must.
Do nothing… and trust that it’s enough.
This Easter, let the empty tomb be your gentle reminder: You are allowed to rest. Because He already did the heavy lifting.
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