Why You Have Permission to be Tired

From One Who’s Learning It Too...We're Only Human!

Photo by Jack Bass on Unsplash

I’m Still Tired (And That’s Okay)

It’s been a few weeks since Easter.

And you know what?

I’m still tired. Yes, I know it seems that I keep bringing this up, but there’s a good reason for it…I can’t be the only one who is feeling like this?

So let me explain.

It’s not just the “I could use a nap” tired. What I mean is:

The kind of tired that makes you forget why you walked into the kitchen. However, at 64 years old, I would usually attribute it to age, but that’s another story for another day. Now where were we… oh yeah:

The kind of tired that has you staring at the laundry basket like it personally wronged you.

The kind of tired where your favorite friend or family member calls and you let it go to voicemail.

The kind of tired that makes even rest feel exhausting.

Not so much physically, but mentally. And the thing about mental fatigue is that it tricks your body into feeling heavy too.

And then it hit me: when the Easter season finally wrapped and we celebrated “It is Finished,” I realized something — now I get to focus on all the events of spring and summer.

You know the ones. Asking the boss for time off for summer vacation. How to keep the kids busy during the summer. Graduations. Weddings. Summer holidays. More birthdays. Mid-year doctor’s appointments.

And the list goes on with the ‘life’ stuff, daily noise of the news media, politics, wars, financial crisis and all the other ‘gloom and doom’ the world tries to throw at us. It’s enough to make you want to scream!

Well, last week I gave myself permission to crash. I put on my favorite Target Bullseye fuzzy pants. Bought Italian subs, so no cooking. Closed my eyes by 4pm for a nap, to give me enough ‘get up and go’ until bedtime.

But here’s what I didn’t expect: waking up the next day... I was still tired.

And the day after that.

And this morning.

What got to me the most? I started to feel guilty about it. Started feeling like a hamster on a wheel — the never-ending cycle.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.” - Psalm 23:1-2

Did you catch that? He makes me lie down.

Not suggests. Not recommends. Not hints.

“He makes me.”

Because sometimes, the Shepherd knows we won’t rest unless we’re led to it. Sometimes our bodies give out before our minds give in. Sometimes we need more than a single Sunday afternoon of fuzzy pants to recover from years of running on fumes.

And that’s not weakness. That’s wisdom starting to wake up.

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When Your Mind Tells You Otherwise...

I know what you might be thinking. Because I’ve thought it too:

“I should be over this by now.”

“Other people are fine. What’s wrong with me?”

“If I just push through, I’ll catch up eventually.”

“Rest is for people who don’t have as much to do.”

“I don’t even have children who depend on me. How can I be this tired?”

I spent years believing these lies. Years smiling through Sunday services while my soul was screaming for stillness. Years filling my calendar to the margins and calling it "ministry" when it was really just avoidance, which eventually turned into isolation. I thought I was in control.

Because here’s the truth I had to learn the hard way: being busy was easier than being still. In the stillness, I had to face things. In the stillness, I had to feel things. In the stillness, I couldn’t hide behind productivity. In the stillness, I thought I would be exposed. And there it was again: the guilt of being still.

But God doesn’t lead us beside still waters just for scenery. He leads us there because that’s where restoration begins.

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The Deeper Truth

Here’s what I’m learning: rest isn’t a one-time event. It’s a rhythm.

You wouldn’t expect one meal to satisfy you for a week. You wouldn’t expect one night’s sleep to carry you through the month. So why do we expect one afternoon of rest to undo years of depletion?

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me... and you will find rest for your souls.”

— Matthew 11:28–29

Notice Jesus says “come” and then “take” and then “learn.”

It’s a process. A practice. A way of living.

If you’re still tired, even after trying to rest, you’re not failing. You’re just not finished yet. And neither am I.

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Remember This Truth

Through it all, the verse above reminded me that I'm to give my burdens to the Lord. Starting right now. And to move past the shame and guilt by telling myself:

It’s okay to still be tired.

It’s okay to need more rest than I thought.

It’s okay to take longer to recover than expected.

It’s okay to be human.

As I said at the beginning, I can’t be the only one. So, I share this with you because you are not a machine built to perform. You are a beloved daughter designed to flourish. And flourishing takes time.

The Shepherd is patient. His green pastures aren’t going anywhere. And neither is His love for you, whether you feel rested or still running on empty.

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An Invitation

If this resonates with you, if you’re reading this and thinking “that’s me,” would you take a moment today to stop striving?

No pressure. No productivity required.

Just breathe. Just be. Just let the Good Shepherd lead you beside still waters, even if it’s only for five minutes.

You’re worth it. And so is your rest.

Joyfully yours,

Tina 💖

How long have you been running on empty? Hit reply or leave a comment. I’d love to hear your story. You’re not alone in this.

“From my heart to yours, thank you for reading. 💛

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