“God’s Not Burning You Out—He’s Lifting You Up

“God’s Not Burning You Out—He’s Lifting You Up"

Ever feel like you’re just keeping your head above water—groggy, unmotivated, stuck in the status quo, falling behind, and tired of all that life keeps throwing at you? Ever feel like more and more is expected of you in all the roles you star in—at work, at home, in your community? It can feel overwhelming.

Yet Paul, writing to the Christians in Thessalonica, calls them higher—first toward God, then toward one another:

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1)

“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9–10)

Have you ever been in an environment where people pour into your life—showing up, serving, bringing dinner, caring, communicating? It’s transformative and contagious. When people give more and more to God and others, they glow. It doesn’t feel like a burden; it feels like blessing.

Why the word urge matters

Urge = to press earnestly; to call someone forward with loving intensity. Paul isn’t nagging; he’s pastoring. He makes it a big deal because:

1. Love leaks. Without renewal, passion fades and “less and less” becomes normal.

2. Mission matters. People need the love God placed in us—today, not someday.

3. Growth requires stretch. Transformation doesn’t happen in cruise control.

If we ignore the call

When we don’t follow this command, three things tend to happen:

1. We drift. Autopilot replaces purpose, and we quietly move backward.

2. We dull. Our joy dims; Scripture and prayer feel like checkbox chores.

3. We isolate. Consumption replaces contribution, and community thins out.

More and more = transformation

Paul isn’t pushing busyness; he’s inviting becoming. Not more tasks—more heart. More love, more service, more care. God is not trying to burn us out; He’s lifting us up. How? As we take our eyes off ourselves, the Spirit reorders our priorities, multiplies our energy for what matters, and turns ordinary moments into ministry. God becomes more; we become less—and strangely, we become more alive.

So let’s aim higher this September: more love, more encouragement, more serving. Not to earn God’s love (He’s already maxed that out at the cross), but to live fueled by it—moving from consuming to contributing, from “better” to transformed.

If this stirs something in you, let’s keep the conversation going. Click below to schedule a Discovery Call.