Hope vs. Hustle: Where Rest Really Begins

Welcome to Unwrapping Rest, the podcast for Christian women who are tired of the hustle, weary from perfectionism, and longing for a hope that doesn’t wear them out.

I’m Dawn Tolbert, writer, striver in recovery, and fellow traveler learning to trade performance for peace.

I’m so glad you’re here.

This is Episode 10, Exhausted by Your To-Do List? Find Real Hope Beyond Striving.

Let’s dive in.

I had a doctor’s appointment last week, and we talked through some important changes I needed to make for my health.

That, aligned with the recent crossing over the midpoint of the year, set my overachiever heart aflutter.

It seemed like the perfect time to imagine all the things that could be as I determined a path that would allow me to make some much-needed changes.

Before I knew it, I’d identified twelve new goals.

Twelve.

They were good things.

More water. More walking. More writing. More quiet time. More Jesus.

And that only partially covers my personal list.

But pondering those changes didn’t leave me feeling hopeful.

I felt overwhelmed.

Now, my favorite productivity podcast would tell me I simply needed to hone my list to three items.

That would give me perfect focus.

And of course, I’d be on the right track if I added specifics about when I wanted to accomplish each goal and could envision results that could be measured.

But my sweet friend, this was a great time for me to make a much more important reset.

And I’m wondering if you might need the same reminder.

Not just a reset—but R.E.S.T.

When my tendency to seek control through the mighty to-do list begins to rage, I need to pause and remember the R.E.S.T. framework we’ve been learning.

R stands for Realize and Relationship.

I need to realize that I will never find hope in any to-do list, no matter how pretty the planner I might be using, and that I was created to be in relationship with God through Jesus.

He loves me even when my to-do list items are left undone or the scale takes a turn in the wrong direction.

E reminds me to evaluate my priorities in light of the eternal.

Are these good things for me to do?

Ephesians 2:10 tells us they are.

That includes writing these words to encourage you in your faith journey.

But the enemy would love nothing more than to distract me with a thousand must-do lists and then leave me heartbroken when I inevitably don’t measure up to my own impossible standards.

That brings us to S, which stands for Stop Striving and Surrender.

That heart posture doesn’t mean I give up hope of a different, healthier future or that I should never have any goals.

The goals themselves aren’t the problem.

The problem comes when I start believing that how I measure up to them defines my identity.

God’s in charge of that.

He tells me who I am.

Period.

Full stop.

Which brings us to T.

The only choice I can make if He is Lord of my life is to Trust Him and live Transformed.

So once again, I’m surrendering my massive to-do list and my overachieving tendencies—not to start a new journey toward doing more, but toward true hope.

We need to remind ourselves and each other that God isn’t the one driving us to do more.

He sent Jesus to save us so that we could have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10 tells us that.

He never meant for us to be running around trying to earn the love He so freely gave.

Instead, He offers us forgiveness when we recognize we are hopeless without Jesus and invite Him to be Lord of our lives.

After that, we have amazing hope that will last for eternity.

It’s hope that holds when the to-do list remains undone.

Hope that whispers peace into the storms of our lives.

Hope that doesn’t depend on our performance.

I’m inviting you to join me on the Rest, Not Striving journey, where we’re going to take a deep dive into what true hope really means.

Here’s our first lesson:

Hope was never meant to exhaust us.

We live in light of our personal relationship with the One described as the Living Hope.

He’s not demanding more from us.

He is offering peace and rest when we fully trust Him and choose to be obedient to what He calls us to do instead of wandering into our own wilderness of well-intentioned strategies and striving.

Over the next several episodes, we’ll explore what biblical hope really means—not the kind that crosses its fingers and makes a wish, but the kind that draws us closer to the One who loves us so very much.

Let’s walk this road together, drawing nearer to Him one unhurried, grace-filled step at a time.

If this episode speaks to your heart, take a few quiet moments today and ask God where He’s inviting you to rest.

Not because you’ve earned it.

But because you don’t have to.

He just loves you.

Thank you for spending time with me today.

My hope is that today’s episode gave your heart a little breathing room and reminded you that hope isn’t something you have to earn.

It’s something you’re invited to receive, just like rest.

Until next time, keep resting, keep trusting Jesus, and remember: You don’t have to do it all to be deeply loved by God.

I’m cheering you on, always.