Once again, I find myself here, wrestling with boundaries after four years of faithfully serving Elijah House schools, pouring heart and time into every detail. Service has been my joy and my offering. Yet a question keeps circling back, gentle but persistent: Am I still here because God is calling me, or because I fear what will happen if I step back?🤔

It’s such a vulnerable question, and the answer isn’t always neat or easy. For four years, I’ve poured myself out — faithfully, lovingly, consistently and I know God has moved in the midst of it all. He’s used me there, but something inside is stirring. Not restlessness, but… reflection. A quiet invitation to examine the why behind my yes.

Sometimes, what began in obedience can quietly slide into obligation. What once flowed from overflow can, over time, begin to draw from a dry well — especially when we forget to pause, to rest, to ask again:

“Is this still where You want me, Lord?”🤔

Serving from an empty place isn’t sustainable. It wears down your joy, blurs your discernment, and can lead to resentment — even in the most noble roles.

The difference is subtle, yet life-giving. To be called is to be carried by peace. Even in weariness, there is joy because the assignment is Spirit-breathed. To be compelled is to move from pressure, guilt, or the fear of disappointing others. The work may look the same, but the heart posture is worlds apart.

Faith says, trust Me even if you let go. Fear whispers, if you don’t do it, who will? One is rooted in God’s sufficiency. The other in self-reliance. One nourishes, the other drains.

The Holy Spirit gently reminds me:

I am not responsible to hold everything together.

Need does not always equal assignment.

My identity is not defined by how much I do, or how well I serve.

He has prepared good works — not pressured me into endless ones.

I sense God inviting me to pause, to listen closely, to separate the holy call from the heavy compulsion. Perhaps boundaries are not barriers but sacred spaces where His voice grows clearer. Perhaps stepping back would open space for another to step in, or simply allow me to serve from a place of rest rather than depletion.

💡 Reflection:

Sit with these questions in prayer:

• What part of me is afraid to step back — and why?🤔

• Am I still serving from a place of calling… or a fear of disappointing others?🤔

• Have I invited Holy Spirit lately to re-confirm or release me from this season?🤔

• What would I do differently if I truly believed I am already loved, even when I’m not needed?🤔 Write whatever surfaces. Don’t edit it. Let your soul speak.

• Where in my service do I feel peace, even when it stretches me?🤔

• Where do I feel pressured, fearful, or guilty?🤔

• What would trusting God’s provision look like if I released certain roles?🤔

• How might I discern the Holy Spirit’s call from my own compulsion?🤔

This isn’t a crossroads of quitting or staying. It’s a sacred moment of checking whose voice is guiding your steps. Your obedience has never gone unnoticed — but neither has your exhaustion.

You are deeply loved, even when you're not filling every gap.

You are still chosen, even if you say no.

Let God lead — not just to serve, but to rest.

May you rest in the assurance that you are not loved for how much you serve, but for who you are in Him. His yoke is easy, His burden light, and His call always carries peace.

🙌Prayer:

Jesus, I bring You my heart — the parts that long to serve, and the parts that are weary. Help me discern when to stay and when to rest, when to say yes and when to step back. Remind me that You are the Source and the Shepherd. I don’t need to rescue or carry what was never mine. If You are calling me to remain, give me fresh grace and joy. If You’re releasing me, grant me peace and courage to obey.

Lord Jesus, search my heart and sift my motives. Reveal where You are truly calling me, and where I have been driven by fear or pressure. Teach me to serve with joy, not compulsion, with love, not obligation. Help me trust Your provision for the needs around me. Give me the courage to set boundaries that honour both You and the person You have created me to be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.