You can do a lot. You have done a lot. But what if trusting God instead of self-reliance means letting go of some of the very things you’re capable of handling?
As women in midlife, we often carry the full weight of our family’s calendar, emotional needs, work or ministry, health goals, and everything in between. Not because we must, but because we can. We’re capable, dependable, and willing. But here’s the hard truth: your capacity is a gift, but without discernment, it can become a distraction.
Trusting God Instead of Self-Reliance: Are You Carrying What He Actually Gave You?
Self-reliance doesn’t always look rebellious. Sometimes, it looks like helpfulness and being the glue that holds it all together. You keep moving forward because you don’t want to fall behind . . . say yes because no one else will . . . push through because you love your people.
But when you look at your week, your calendar, your exhaustion, have you paused to ask: Is this what God asked me to carry? Or is this just what I’m capable of carrying?
Maybe your capacity isn’t the same as your calling. That isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom.
Trusting God Instead of Self-Reliance: When Discernment Replaces Hustle
Isaiah 50:11 warns about kindling our own fires, walking by our own light instead of God’s. That imagery speaks to the woman who wakes up already overwhelmed, relying on her own spark to get through the day. But God wants to offer more than sparks. He offers light that doesn’t burn out.
“But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches, go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze. This is what you shall receive from my hand: You will lie down in torment.” — Isaiah 50:11
Trusting God instead of self-reliance invites you to ask:
- What am I doing out of habit or obligation, not calling?
- What would change if I let God edit my to-do list?
- Where have I mistaken my productivity for obedience?
You may be capable of many things, but called to a few.
Trusting God Instead of Self-Reliance: Trading a Packed Schedule for a Purpose-Fueled Life
One of the most exhausting lies is that we can do it all if we just manage it all better. But even Jesus didn’t heal every person, say yes to every request, or respond to every need. He walked in step with His Father. Not ahead. Not behind.
God doesn’t want your schedule packed; He wants your purpose fueled.
When we pause and seek discernment, we make room for:
- Creative energy to flow into what matters most
- Emotional margin to love well
- Rest that restores
- Space to hear God and walk in step with Him
Trusting God Instead of Self-Reliance: An Invitation to Release and Realign
If you’re tired of carrying more than you’re called to, you’re not alone. So many women, especially in this season of life, are quietly wondering, Is this what God meant for me?
Discernment is how we protect our peace. It’s how we preserve joy. It’s how we stay aligned with the specific purpose God has for us, not just what others expect or what we happen to be good at or capable of.
You can trust Him. You can lay it down. Ask and He will show you.
Reflect and Respond
Where might you be tempted to “light your own fire?” Is there an area where fear or self-reliance has taken the lead instead of trust?
Use these journal prompts to create space for clarity:
- What am I carrying right now that feels heavy, even though I chose it?
- Where am I relying on my own spark instead of God’s light?
- What might God be asking me to release in this season?
- What one thing could I pause this week, just to see how it feels?
Isaiah 50:11 is a reminder that self-lit fires don’t last. But God’s light never fades. And I’d rather walk in His light, even if it feels slow or unclear, than lie down in the torment of my own making.
Want Help Discerning If You’re Really Hearing God in Your Journaling?
It’s easy to wonder if your journal is just a brain dump or if your thoughts are actually in tune with the Holy Spirit.
That’s why I created the Holy Spirit Journaling Checklist—a practical tool to help you discern whether what you’re writing is Spirit-led or self-led. It’s helped me make wiser, peace-filled decisions, and I believe it can do the same for you.
