Stepping Off the Hamster Wheel of Performance
Society teaches us that with enough hard work and determination, we can accomplish any dream or goal we set our minds to. While this is true to an extent, success must be about more than just relentless effort. I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen plenty of people pour their energy, money, time, and heart into their dreams—only to fall short of seeing them materialize.
We are created as three-part beings: body, soul, and spirit. Because the spirit is the quietest part of our being, it often gets drowned out by the louder demands of the body and soul—our thoughts, emotions, and will. As a result, we can fall into a cycle of constant activity, believing that being busy will inevitably produce results.
Unfortunately, religion often reinforces this mindset even though the Bible tells a very different story. We’ve been conditioned to think that in order to get God’s help, we must first earn His approval. You’ve probably heard the saying, “God helps those who help themselves.” It sounds biblical, but it’s nowhere to be found in Scripture.
Many of us live life as though we must “help ourselves” before expecting help from above. Maybe that means reading our Bible more, praying harder, going on an extended fast, or even trying to be extra kind to others—hoping these efforts will somehow capture God’s attention.
Don’t misunderstand me—these are all valuable spiritual disciplines that help us grow in our faith. But they are not a formula for earning God’s goodness. The Bible calls this mindset “works.” Galatians 2:16 says:
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
Simply put, no amount of self-effort can make us right before God. Only our faith in Jesus secures our approval from Him.
In fact, Hebrews 4 reveals that God desires for us to enter into His rest. This rest is not about inactivity but about trusting that God loves us, cares for us, and will guide us to our dreams and purpose—without requiring our striving to make it happen on our own.
So the next time you find yourself caught in the relentless cycle of busyness, ask yourself these two questions:
- Is my mind at rest, trusting that Jesus loves me and will get me to my destination?
- Is my hard work rooted in God’s leading, or am I operating out of self-effort?
If your work is fueled by faith, keep moving forward! But if you’re just spinning your wheels, it may be time to step away from the hamster wheel of performance—and step into the rest that God has for you.
