Most of my shoulder patients will complain of pain in their upper trap muscle, whether from a chronic issue or surgery. As a physical therapist, I don’t just teach them how to stretch that muscle or massage it, I teach them to retrain it.

Our body is an amazing machine; it will do what the brain tells it to do. But it also likes to remain happy and avoid pain, so bigger muscles will take over the role of muscles that have been impacted by pain or injury.

In the case of the shoulder, when our shoulder muscles are injured and too weak to lift our arm and grab that cup of coffee, the upper trap muscle (whose role is to shrug the shoulder up) will come to our aid to get the job done. This is an involuntary compensation that happens to help our body function. But over time, it leads to dysfunctional patterns of movement, creating muscular imbalance which then leads to pain in other areas. Because the upper trap is attached to the neck, you will begin to notice tightness and pain with neck motion and sometimes even headaches. So instead of slapping a band-aid on the pain with some exercises, we have to retrain those overworked trapezius muscles to relax and rest, so they can return to doing their role, and then the shoulder muscles can perform their role and get strong.

The trap muscle is like most Christian women I know. We define ourselves as helpers — that has become our role and purpose.

I became a Christian at the age of thirteen and since then I have served in every ministry that has existed in my church. Like many new believers, I was taught by well-meaning church leaders that serving was the way to be a good Christian. So I lived a life of performance: doing everything, showing up consistently, carrying everyone’s burdens, and always saying yes!

People praised me for doing so much. I felt like an asset to the kingdom of God and it felt good to be important. But I was tired. I would still pray for more gifts and more opportunities so I could do more things. Finally last year, I hit burnout. I couldn’t do anything. I felt like my life had no purpose. It was there, in the quiet when my hands were idle and my ministry looked barren that God spoke, “Simi, I love you more than your ministry…do you love Me more than your ministry?”

The greatest lie The Church taught me is that my greatest blessing and purpose is in what I “get to do” for Jesus. But I finally understand the truth: my greatest blessing and purpose is that I get to be with Jesus.

Jesus didn’t die on the cross to make me a slave to striving and doing more. Yes, I have been given gifts that I can honor God with by serving my church and community, but I am a daughter and disciple, first. When my love is disordered, and I delight more in my doing than in my devotion to Jesus, then my work is merely compensating for a lack of relationship with Him. And like the upper trap, when I do the work that is beyond my capacity — ignoring my limitations — I will end up hurting myself and others around me.

Matthew 11:28 has been a source of comfort and has helped me heal from burnout: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (CSB).

It is Jesus’ invitation to those of us who feel like the gifts we are blessed with have become a burden, slowly wearing us down. I love that Jesus sees us. He sees our limitations and honors our humanity. He doesn’t scold us but draws us in close, like a friend. And He doesn’t just offer us strength to keep going and keep doing more for Him. Like a good physical therapist, He invites us to retrain and renew our minds on our identity and purpose.

In His love, Jesus offers us rest as the remedy for burnout.

I love The Message paraphrase of these verses, “Walk with me and work with me — watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace…”

Jesus gives us an example and offers us a pattern to follow: “walk with me and work with me…” The order is important. We must first live aligned to the will of God and abide in Christ; then we do the work. In both the walking and the working, we are invited to a “with God” life. This is the place of deep contentment where striving and performance end and we can experience abundant life.

Friend, if you are constantly overworking and over-scheduling, you will be exhausted and lack joy. Don’t fall into the trap like the upper trap muscle thinking it’s all on you — you will run ahead of Jesus and your pace will kill your peace.

Consider this a gentle reminder to slow down and embrace the unforced rhythm of grace found in a “with God” life. And when you are with Him, you will know that He sees your humanity and honors it. Will you do the same for yourself?

Listen to Simi’s devotion below or on your favorite podcast app!

Leave a Comment