When My Body Forced Me to Stop Striving—and God Taught Me How to Be Sustained
A testimony of surrender, restoration, and learning to live in God’s strength
For a long time, my mornings looked disciplined—impressive, even.
I woke up at 5 a.m.
I worked out.
I got ready for work while listening to the news.
I whipped up a smoothie from an expensive brand that promised health.
Then I went off to conquer my day.
I believed that strength came from effort.
That discipline meant pushing through.
That the harder I worked, the better everything would be.
But eventually, my body stopped allowing me to live that way.
When My Body Would No Longer Cooperate
The pain and fatigue became impossible to ignore.
My body would not allow me to work out in the morning anymore—no matter how determined I was to keep going. I woke up aching before the day had even begun. Even when I slept longer, I didn’t feel rested.
What frustrated me most was that this wasn’t a motivation problem.
It wasn’t laziness.
It wasn’t lack of discipline.
My body simply said no.
At the time, I felt confused and even discouraged. Looking back now, I see it differently.
What I once viewed as weakness was actually mercy.
A Humbling I Didn’t Ask For—but Needed
I had always relied on my own strength.
My routines reflected that—early mornings, productivity, intensity.
But this season humbled me.
When my body removed the option to strive, I was forced to confront something deeper: I had been living as though my strength was the sustaining force.
And it wasn’t.
God was gently removing my ability to power through so He could show me how to live supported—by Him.
When I Stopped Striving, I Learned How to Receive
When pushing was no longer an option, I began searching for something that would sustain me instead.
That’s when I started my mornings with one Scripture at a time.
Not chapters.
Not plans.
Just a single verse—read slowly, without an agenda.
Over time, I felt led to read the entire New Testament. But I didn’t want to rush through it. I wanted to understand it—really understand it.
So I bought a chronological Bible in the New King James Version.
Reading Scripture in historical order changed everything. The story connected. The context made sense. The Word became alive in a way it never had before.
And quietly, my mornings softened.
Coffee, Scripture, and a Slower Way
My mornings became simple.
Coffee and my Bible.
Then journaling followed—writing what I was reading, what stood out, what God was showing me. That’s when I realized something important:
I wasn’t just reading Scripture anymore.
I was learning—deeply.
That spiritual nourishment began to shape how I cared for my body, too.
Small Physical Changes That Supported the Spiritual Ones
As my mornings slowed spiritually, they softened physically as well.
☕ Coffee—With Discernment
I learned why organic products felt life-giving to me, while others felt draining.
Two coffee brands I now enjoy are:
Mayorga Coffee- half caffeinated, half decaf
I also learned something humbling: too much of a good thing is still too much.
I used to drink coffee all day long. When I began experiencing irregular heartbeats, my doctors suggested cutting back. While it didn’t resolve the heart rhythm issue, it did ease anxiety I didn’t realize I was carrying.
Now I drink half-caff, slowly and intentionally.
What My Morning Routine Looks Like Now
This routine isn’t impressive—but it is sustaining.
Full-body red light while meditating
Half-caff coffee with Scripture
Journaling what I read and notice
Calmly getting ready for work—no news, no rushing
Before leaving, I take what I call my digestion shot:
Juice of half an organic lime
⅛ tsp organic cayenne
A shake of Redmond Real Salt
1 tablespoon Atlas Organic Olive Oil
I also take my “immunity shot”—a small daily habit to help support my body in a classroom full of generously shared germs. It’s quite a recipe, but very effective!
Then I make an organic smoothie with:
Half scoop protein from Garden of Life
Half scoop bone broth protein from Ancient Nutrition
Liquid organic vitamin D3/K2
Organic Adaptogen Blend (because a little extra boost keeps the cells healthy)
Organic Cacao powder (because I love chocolate—and it’s rich in antioxidants)
Greens, 1/2 an avocado, berries, and a stalk of celery
I drink it on the way to work.
Once I arrive, I make a cup of Ryze to keep my energy steady through the day—without the spikes and crashes I once accepted as normal. And it’s organic!
What I’ve Learned
I didn’t change my mornings to fix myself.
My body forced me to stop relying on my own strength—and in that surrender, God showed me something better.
He could sustain me.
Not through adrenaline.
Not through intensity.
But through quiet, daily dependence.
What once felt like limitation became an invitation—to live supported instead of driven.
A Gentle Reflection
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Reflection Question:
Where might God be asking you to stop striving so He can show you how He sustains?
Affiliate Disclosure:
Some links in this post may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission—at no additional cost to you—if you choose to make a purchase. I only share products I personally use, trust, or genuinely believe add value. Thank you for supporting The Faithful Path.