The Real Reason You're Always Tired And How the Jesus Challenge Restores Your Energy

Key Takeaways: 

• Your never-ending exhaustion comes from a heavy combination of mental, emotional, and spiritual depletion. 

• Sleep, caffeine, and “zoning out” doesn’t fix deep exhaustion. 

• Constant input keeps your mind and heart from fully resting. 

• True rest comes from creating margin to be in God’s presence. 

• The virtual Jesus challenge removes decision fatigue and creates daily margin.

• 20 minutes with God a day directly impact the other 23 hours of your day. 

Is it just me, or is anyone else still in that never-ending season of, “Once things slow down, I’ll (fill-in-the-blank)”? But in reality, things haven’t slowed down for YEARS. And I don’t foresee them slowing down soon. “This season” is literally turning into a lifetime. 🥵

You’re bone-tired. Every day. Even though you get sleep, even though you have more than enough cups of coffee this morning. 

As a busy mom of two littles, a wife, a business owner, and an active member in church and community, I know how you feel. The drain on us is real and HUGE.  Some days it seems we might run around with baggy eyes and foggy brains forever. 🥱

On paper, you should feel pretty functional, but you’re swamped by 9am and simple decisions carry the weight of the world. Your mind never turns off, it’s always running. You hit the pillow at night overstimulated and open your eyes in the morning already racing through the day’s events. 

It’s not that your life is out of control, it’s just full. Like everyone’s! 

You’re taking care of your family, juggling responsibilities, showing up for everyone who needs you, and somewhere on that list you miiiiight think about taking care of yourself, but that’s the first thing to go on busy days (every day). 🗑️

🗣️ “Once things slow down I’ll start working out again.” 

🗣️ “Once things slow down I’ll take some alone time again.” 

🗣️ “Once things slow down I’ll spend time with the Lord consistently again.” 

Maybe more coffee will help. More sleep. A stricter routine. 

But we all know the brutal truth: busyness NEVER goes away with time. And no matter how scheduled or caffeinated you are, that depletion still drags you down every day. 

I want to suggest that maybe the issue isn’t more sleep, more coffee, tighter scheduling, or even a day “off.” (Crazy, I know.) 🤯

The Hidden Drain 

We often think the drain is just lack of sleep or even our own weakness. That a quiet vacation away for the weekend will nicely fix it. But no amount of sleep, pushing through, or time off plugs the real drain that’s zapping all our strength and energy. 

It’s a three-headed monster-drain. 👹

Let’s break it down: 

1. Mental Depletion 🧠

Your brain is ALWAYS on and it never really gets a break, even when your body is still. 

• Nonstop decisions (what to cook, what to buy, who needs what, how to have that conversation) 

• A never-ending list of to-dos running in the background 

• Jumping from task to task without pause because there’s no time 

• Constant input: phone, texts, notifications, conversations, opinions, subsequent overthinking (it’s overwhelming just thinking about this!) 

• No quiet or margin for your own brain to land 

2. Emotional Depletion 💗

You're not just managing your own busy life, you’re carrying everyone else’ too. 

• Thinking about your kids, your spouse, your home, your people 

• Feeling the weight of responsibility, pressure, expectations 

• Walking your kids through their own feelings and emotions 

• Overstimulation from noise, needs, constant interaction 

• Guilt when you feel like you’re not doing enough 

• No space or time to process your own thoughts or emotions 

3. Spiritual Depletion 🕊️

This is the one we usually overlook, but it’s just as draining as the other two. 

• Feeling distant from God, even though you love Him dearly 

• Running on empty, but not feeling like you can show it 

• Pouring out all day without anything filling you back up 

• Reacting in the moment because you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel 

So looking at this whole list (which is just the beginning and not all-inclusive), it makes sense why you’re so overwhelmed and depleted. 

The culprit is not your schedule. Not your willpower. Not sleep. Not caffeine. 

Your whole being – body, mind, spirit, and soul, are all BEYOND empty at the same time. And they probably have been for a long time. 🫶

Why “Resting More” Isn’t Helping 

I say this with so much love, but scrolling Instagram for 10 minutes on the couch isn’t actually restful. 📱

It feels like you’re taking a break because you stopped engaging with the world around you. But you traded that world out for another world that’s just as noisy, intense, distracting, and stimulating. Social media “breaks” just amplify the information overload and tempt you with comparison. 

Same with: 

• Zoning out to a TV show 📺

• Taking a break while checking your emails 📩

• Sitting down but mentally running through your to-do list 📝

Your body might be still, but your mind and heart are still overloaded. 

That’s why you don’t feel super rested after “resting” in these ways. 

True Rest for Your Soul 

Jesus says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” (Matthew 11:28)

What does that mean then?? 🤷

He promises rest, but it seems so elusive. If the answer isn’t a tighter routine, more productivity, or even a day off, what is it? 

We need: 

• Quiet – literal quiet away from the MANY voices clamoring in your ears and mind 

• Space – literal distance from the needs and pressure of your full life 

• Stillness – literally not producing or accomplishing anything on our to-do list 

• Personal connection with God – just for YOU, not via your kids’ AWANA homework 

• Every day – not once a year, or once a month, or even once a week. Every day. 

I know exactly how that sounds. 

😅 “That sounds amazing, but it’s totally unrealistic for my life.” 

Because you’re truly just so busy. 

Who even knows how to create that kind of space?! 

Honestly, it feels like one more thing to add to your plate. 

Introducing The Virtual Jesus Challenge 

This is exactly why I created the virtual Jesus challenge. I know how intense that depletion gets, and that’s not how God designed us to live! 

I designed the Jesus virtual challenge INTENTIONALLY for busy, overwhelmed, exhausted people. Because that was also me. 

Here’s what it looks like: 

• A 40-day commitment  

• Walk or run one mile every day 

• Listen to a pre-selected section of Scripture 

• Optionally participate in daily challenges to apply your reading 

• Join a private Facebook accountability group for encouragement 

That’s it. Nothing complicated or intense. 

🚨 Best of all, you're NOT expected to do it perfectly. The purpose of this challenge is found in the journey. So just do the best you can in this season, and you'll reap the rewards. I know how it goes. Missed days, half-days, and sick days are all part of the journey. :) 

How Does the Virtual Jesus Challenge Plug the Drain? 

Here’s why this virtual Christian walking challenge setup works SO well for people running on empty: 

• No decisions required 🤓

You don’t have to figure out what to read or where to start. You can just follow the plan without any decisions or mental effort required. 

• Creates instant mental margin 🧠

You step OUT of your house, AWAY from work and demands, OFF your phone, finally away from all the noise and mental stimulation. Your brain finally has space to breathe for a few minutes every day. 

• Combines movement and stillness 🚶

Moving your body naturally reduces stress hormones. Your mind and spirit also get a chance to slow down and relax, giving you a whole-person reset on every level. 

• Reconnects you with God 🤲

Even if you don’t have any kind of big emotional breakthrough, just spending time quietly in God’s presence, letting His Word fill your mind, letting Him minister to you, THAT fills you up more than anything else. There’s no need to perform or do it “right".” He just wants to love on the real you, in-the-moment you. 

• Sets you up for success 🏅

Instead of adding drain to your days, you arrive back at your door with fresh perspective and courage, all filled up on God’s promises and presence. It makes you a better parent, spouse, coworker, and friend. 

If you’re curious what the virtual Jesus challenge actually looks like inside a busy life, read our recent blog series on a real participant’s honest experience.

Part 1 covers typical entry fears.
Part 2 explores concerns within the challenge.
Part 3 talks about the real emotional, spiritual, and physical transformation. 

Is The Virtual Jesus Challenge Sustainable? 

In Part 3 of our recent blog series, you’ll notice very specific evidence that the Jesus virtual challenge truly can quench your depletion, long-term! 

Things like: 

• Thoughts feeling clearer instead of scrambled 

• Anxiety quieting down rather than running the show 

• Responding to annoyances with patience and grace 

• Feeling more grounded and steady emotionally 

• Experiencing real energy again (not caffeine-fueled) 

As God ministers to you through the Jesus challenge, you’ll slowly start feeling like yourself again. 

Not because life suddenly got so much easier, but because He’s restoring you inside it. 🔋

Imagine the scene painted in the first three verses of Psalm 23. 

🐑 You have a loving, safe Shepherd who takes care of everything. EVERYTHING. 

😌 You have no worries or cares. 

🛌 You have freedom to rest in a safe, beautiful place. 

🍇 You nourish yourself to your heart's content. 

📈 The Shepherd fully rejuvenates your soul. 

That’s the restoration Jesus offers you, and what you can experience through this virtual Christian walking challenge. 

Real-Life Experiences From the Jesus Challenge: 

Thousands of busy, overwhelmed people have completed this challenge before you, and here's what some of them had to say about their recent experience: 

👉 “Inspirational, easy to fit into the day, loved the journal pages and the check-off calendar. Super comfortable shirt.” – Hilary Stankiewicz, Jesus challenge finisher, April 2026 

👉 “It helped me with my mental health, physical health, and emotional wellbeing. There were days I felt like giving up, but Jesus was with me every step of the day.” – Angie G, Jesus Challenge finisher, April 2026 

👉 “This challenge was life-nourishing. 10 out of 10. 100% recommend. My teenage daughter and I came away from the challenge with a love for the book of Acts and so many memories walking together. We will keep on walking and are going through Romans now because of the time we had in Acts!” – Mary Ellen Warren, Jesus Challenge finisher, April 2026 

👉 “This is a full and complete program to guide spiritual, emotional, and physical growth. I will definitely sign up for the next challenge!” – Sherri LaBriota, Jesus Challenge finisher, April 2026 

The Choice is Yours 

Friend, you don’t have to stay depleted and bone-tired. 

You also don’t have to overhaul your whole life to fix it. 

❌ Or be more disciplined. 

❌ Or do it perfectly. 

❌ Or wait for things to slow down (because they won’t). 

Jesus offers a different way. One that’s sustainable, practical, and restores your whole being every day.

Those 20 minutes devoted to God DIRECTLY impact the other 23 hours of your day. 

He’s eager to take on your burdens so you can walk in freedom and abundance. Cast them on Him, because He cares for you! 

So if you’re willing to give it a shot and step out of this exhaustion cycle, join me for the next virtual Christian walking challenge below. 

I can’t wait to hear how God rejuvenates your life! 😍

Join the virtual Jesus challenge