Ten Things To Do When You Hit A Wall

I hit a wall recently. Has that ever happened to you? I simply ran out of all the energy, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Back in the fall of 2021, not only was my energy draining, but my dreams were fading a bit.

The dream has always been to reach people with the love of God. To make them feel seen and heard, encouraged and strong. Sometimes it looks like words, written and spoken, and sometimes it looks like time spent mentoring, encouraging, listening, and praying. 

Books written with you in mind.

Coffee on couches. 

Talking at tables. 

Meaningful connections that change lives. 

That’s always been the dream.

But after a long season keeping the family afloat through Covid, writing, launching, and promoting my first book,  The Strong-Willed Mama,  saying goodbye to loved ones who passed, and just trying to keep all the plates spinning, as mamas do, I hit a wall. 

I would fall asleep the minute I sat down and dreaded doing anything “non-essential,” as we say these days. Even things I used to love felt like ominous chores. I kept wondering why I was so tired and where my dreams had gone. (And why I was napping in the carpool line. Anyone else?) 

I had no joy and energy, yet I was pressing through, doing all the things because somewhere along the way, I believed that I was “supposed to,” and that's what a good Christian does. “Without grumbling and complaining,” right?

I should be serving at church. I should be reading my bible. I should be volunteering at the school. I should be having people over. I should be promoting my books and building my platform. I should be “striking while the iron is hot.” Checking in on my people. Praying. Working out. Cooking healthy meals for my family. Reading (not scrolling). Sleeping 8 hours. And wouldn't you know it?

I hit a wall. 

Actually, I believe God put UP a wall so I would stop, look, and listen to Him. I had been doing all the things in my own strength, shouldering it all, often alone, often without others, and often without him. It's funny how God works in my life. He will be gentle and subtle, and then when I fail to take a hint, He’ll throw up a wall. 

I took the hint and, well, took a break—a time-out. A self-imposed sabbatical, if you will. It took me a few weeks (read months) to clear my schedule, but I learned a few things when I did. About myself, about God, and about what to do when you hit a wall.

Here are ten things to do when you hit a wall.

1. Rest. Literary take a load off. Rest your body on the couch with a blanket or in the sun with a cold drink. Fall asleep if you need to. I give you permission. The Bible says God works EVEN while you sleep (Ps 3, 127), and in Him, we will find rest for our souls.

Matthew 11:28-30  “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, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

2. Take a nap and eat cake.

I Kings 19 tells the story of  Elijah, who, long story short, is so tired and stressed that he says he wants to die! So he lays down, and an angel instructs him to eat cake, drink water and take a nap basically, and while he does, the Lord strengthens him for the journey ahead. Sometimes my problems don't seem so bad after a nap and some cake!

3. Sit and be still. Take time to quiet yourself in His presence and listen for his voice. Don't worry about that to-do list. It will wait for you.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God; 

Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. 

4. Lean on God. Rest doesn't always seem practical because there is so much to do, but I trust that the Lord will take care of all the things while I rest. (especially if He is the one orchestrating the rest… via the wall.)

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

5. Look up. While you are there leaning on your wall, leaning on your God, look up and talk to Him and tell Him everything. Don’t hold back; let Him help you. I envision a little child with their eyes and arms lifted to their father; won’t He indeed turn his attention towards them and pick them up? Let Him minister to your weary soul and chase away the lies and heaviness. Let Him comfort you and speak truth over you. 

Psalm 121: 1-2  I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

6. Watch and wait. See what the Lord will do for you! Expect change. Expect to feel refreshed and restored and recommissioned. Resting in the Lord produces miraculous results. Wait for him to tell you what to do next and when. 

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. 

7. Dare to dream.  Dream new dreams before the Lord while you rest. Write them down, pray about them out loud and get excited again. Is He reminding you of an old dream, or is He breathing new life and creativity into something current? Maybe in this season, He’ll show you something new. 

Psalm 37:4-5 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

8. Find a friend.  If the pandemic has shown us anything, it's that we are good at being self-sufficient, but just because we are doesn't mean we should be or have to. Two is always more fun! Today I am at my friend Jodi's house… we have decided to have workdays! We are working on totally separate projects, but since we can work from home, why not do it together side by side.  P.S. We take long lunch breaks! It's glorious.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.  For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

9. Find joy. My friends, there is an enemy and he wants nothing more than to steal from you. He wants to steal your joy and leave you depressed and anxious! 

LET'S NOT LET HIM!

The Bible has so much to say about Joy. Google it! Please! And then go and do all the things that bring you joy and do them often with people who bring you joy! Here are some of my favorite joy bringers.

Good food * Good company * Deep conversation * Bad TV * Laughter Sunshine * Excercise * Baking with loud music

Nehemiah 8:10 Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

10. Welcome the redirect. Sometimes when we hit a wall, it is a redirect from the Lord, and if we don't slow down and heed his warning, we might miss the new exciting direction he wants us to go in. 

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.

Don't despair if you've hit a wall. Maybe you just need a nap and some cake. Or perhaps God is about to do something big! Watch and wait and don't miss it!

Reach out if you need someone to talk to and walk with. I am here to listen, help and encourage.