28th May - "Let Go of Pressure: You Don’t Have to Do Anything—You Get To"

This morning started early. I was up before the sun, finding myslf stirring a big pot of porridge for everyone for breakfast, before heading out the door to get Isaac to his horse riding lesson. Then it was the TAFE drop-off, a shopping centre run, and straight home to do the dishes, laundry, floors, and then hang out more washing. All that before 10am… and my brain was still running through everything I hadn’t done yet.

But in the midst of vacuuming—yes, vacuuming—I felt Jesus whisper something quiet but clear:

“You don’t really have to do anything.”

At first I was like, Umm, pretty sure I do! But I kept hearing it. “You don’t have to do anything.” So I paused (vacuum still humming), and I started chatting with Him about it.

What He was showing me wasn’t a permission slip to ignore our responsibilites or quit life—but a heart-check and shifting how we see things. Becaus, lets face it, so much of what fills our heads isn’t required—it’s just what we’ve taken on. And often, we’re not even aware of it.. Expectations. Comparing ourselves to what everyone else is achieving. We want our lives to matter… so we fill them with doing.

But what if it’s not about doing at all?

What if you took the "You Should's" out of your vocabulary?

What if, instead, it’s about choosing? What if it’s about getting to live this one beautiful, messy, meaningful life?

We get to work. We get to care for people. We get to pursue dreams, health, creativity, purpose. And the biggest shift? We get to walk with Jesus while we do it all.

Jesus didn’t call us to a life of stress and striving. He doesn't put "You Should's" on us. He said He came to give us a full, abundant life—not a checklist. He wants to carry our burdens, calm the noise, and teach us how to live freely and lightly.

The goal isn’t to be more productive. The goal is to be more like Him.

Action Steps:

1. Breathe. Take 10 minutes today Just you and Jesus.

2. Reframe. Write down your top 3 responsibilities today. Next to each one, write: “I get to do this.”

3. Ask Him. Pray and ask Jesus, “Where am I putting pressure and tasks on myself that You never asked me to carry?”

4. Reset. At the end of today, thank God for what you enjoyed—not just what you achieved.

   
   

Think and Say:“I don’t have to do everything. I get to choose what matters most. I choose peace over pressure. Important over the urgent. Jesus, teach me to live lightly.”

Bible Verse:"Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace... Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly."—Matthew 11:29-30 MSG

Prayer:Jesus, please remind me that I don’t have to do it all. I get to walk with You. I get to choose how I show up. Help me make decisions that align with who You’ve created me to be, and to find joy in the life you've given me. In Jesu's name Amen.