Burnout Is Blocking Your Connection to God

Have you ever felt your spiritual well run dry?

Like, even if you’re praying and going to church, you still feel far from God?

You’re not the only one (I've been there). And it’s not because you’re faithless.

Let’s take a step back. Because your spiritual dryness isn’t just personal—it’s systemic.

Historically, the rise of scientific thought was perceived to be in conflict with religious belief. As science gained traction, anything not 'provable' was often pushed aside. This cultural shift fostered a form of anti-spiritualism. And while I firmly believe science and faith are not opposed—in fact, they should work beautifully together—our society hasn’t always made space for that harmony. I’m consistently mystified by the anatomy and physiology of the human body. That knowledge didn’t challenge my faith—it affirmed it. But that’s not the narrative we’re usually handed. Also - in our efforts to elevate spirituality, we must also be careful not to reject the gift of science. But for now, let’s stay focused.

Then came capitalism. And within that system, spiritual practices that called us to rest, care, and equity were seen as disruptive. You can’t extract maximum labor from people who prioritize Sabbath. You can’t build profit margins on the backs of people rooted in love, justice, and communal care.

Even in the midst of enslavement, Black spiritual traditions preserved rest through song, prayer, and community. But the violence of capitalism’s influence has worn even those sacred rhythms thin.

When faith was pushed out of public life, we didn’t just lose rituals—we lost collective reverence, a sense of the sacred woven into everyday rhythms. We lost language for soul-tending.

Over time, we were conditioned to prioritize productivity over presence. Capital gain over spiritual growth.

This didn’t just change how we work—it changed how we orient to the world. We lost our internal compass, replacing discernment with deadlines.

This conditioning doesn’t just affect how we work—it affects how we worship.

Faith, when filtered through capitalism and hustle culture, can easily become another performance. Instead of spiritual formation, we fall into spiritual exhaustion.

We start checking boxes instead of communing with God. We go through the motions but feel disconnected. And then we blame ourselves for not "feeling it."

Burnout isn’t just physical. It creeps into your prayer life. It makes it harder to hear God, to feel joy in worship, to discern what is Spirit-led versus socially conditioned.

And if burnout pulls us away from ourselves—but the Holy Spirit lives within us—how do you think that would affect our relationship with God???

This systemic shift is quietly costing us our connection to the Divine - but let me explain what I mean.

When I was deep in the beginning of my residency, on inpatient rotations, I was working long hours, adapting to a new environment, and constantly battling feelings of inadequacy. I was tired. Discouraged. Now, I was still going to church. Still naming my relationship with God as a priority. But it didn’t feel the same. 

One morning, I lay in bed long after my alarm went off. I stared at the ceiling, already dreading the weight of the day. I had a practice of reading bible verses every morning, but I found myself only intellectualizing instead of truly connecting. I knew I needed to pray. I felt a strangeness in putting my hands together.

And yet, I still prayed. Not because I felt God's presence the way I desired, but because I believed He was still listening. I whispered: “Lord, I don’t feel you, but I know you are there. Please see me. Please be with me today.”

That moment wasn’t dramatic. A quiet realization followed, and I believe it was divine. If I wanted to feel connected to God again, I needed to care for the vessel He gave me. That prayer didn’t fix everything, and it took a while for me to start that journey, but I knew I needed to start searching.

When I went down that pathway, I didn't just experience healing, but a returning to myself. And little by little, I FELT the connection I had been longing for.

I want to clarify—just because we may not feel the presence of God, that does not mean He has left us. God is good all the time. He is always with us, even when our burnout dulls our awareness.

But here’s what does happen: we become disconnected from the spiritual power, tied intimately with our level of faith, that God has given us access to. Power to hear from Him. To move with Him. To serve as vessels of His will. To live in mission.

This requires us to remember:

If your faith hasn’t moved out of the prayer closet and into the way you live—into sabbath rhythms, sacred boundaries, and how you love yourself and your community—you’re missing the point.

God didn’t call you to burn out for Him. He called you to abide in Him.

Overworking and burning out is not a spiritual requirement. But faith? It is.

Granted... Jesus did remind us that even a small amount of faith can move mountains:

But that same verse comes after Jesus’s disciples failed to heal a child. When they asked why, Jesus said plainly:
"Because you have so little faith."

So yes, mustard seed faith is enough. But dormant faith—faith unpracticed—limits our access to spiritual power.

That’s why resting, setting boundaries, and pursuing alignment isn’t just self-care. It’s spiritual obedience.

I feel how I am living in this obedience now— and where you can feel it, too:

I still serve. I still show up. I still pursue excellence.

But now, I do it from a place of alignment.

I move slower. With discernment. I trust God's timing over my own striving.

I say no without guilt. I rest without apology. I structure my life around sabbath, nourishment, and community—not deadlines and expectations.

And what’s wild? I’m more productive. More at peace. More deeply connected to God. People see it on my face.

That shift didn’t happen overnight. But it started the moment I gave myself permission to stop performing my faith and start living it.

I didn’t know how much I wanted this kind of life until I tasted it—and realized it had always been mine to claim.

Don’t wait until your spirit is completely parched to tend to it. Spiritual dryness doesn’t just go away on its own—it deepens when left unaddressed. And it becomes easier and easier to confuse disconnection with disbelief, exhaustion with failure.

But you can shift. And the moment to shift is now.

The longer you delay tending to your soul, the more distant God feels—not because He’s gone, but because your spirit has grown tired of trying to hear Him through the noise. You don’t have to stay there. There is a quiet place to receive His presence. 

This is your invitation to return. To reset. To reclaim the connection that burnout tried to steal.

You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight—but you do have to start somewhere. Here are three gentle invitations to begin your return. Let them meet you where you are.

🪞 1. Be Honest with God.
He can handle your honesty. He'll meet you where you are, even if you feel far away. You don’t have to pretend to be “okay.” Your quiet, broken prayers are still heard. Whisper them anyway.
This isn’t about fancy language or emotional highs—it’s about showing up. Even a groan counts as a prayer (Romans 8:26). Don’t underestimate how sacred your most vulnerable words are to God. And sometimes, the prayer is simply: “Help.”

🚩 2. Notice What’s Crowding Out Your Connection.
What responsibilities, beliefs, or habits are keeping you from rest and presence? You don’t need to cut it all at once—but you do need to name it.
Sometimes it’s the endless to-do list. Other times it’s the lie that you have to prove your worth to be loved. It could be survival patterns from past seasons still running in the background. Pause and ask: What have I allowed to become louder than God’s voice? That question alone can change everything.

🔥3. Let Your Rest Be an Act of Faith.
Rest is the way you EXERCISE your faith - like it's a muscle.  It’s saying, “God, I believe you can do more with my surrender than I can with my striving.”
Even Jesus rested. So why do we think we’re above it?
Make rest part of your spiritual rhythm. Protect your sleep. Schedule margin. Embrace stillness when your body calls for it. These are not luxuries—they’re spiritual strategies. Each time you rest, you’re declaring that your value doesn’t come from output, but from who you are in Him.

This kind of spiritual restoration doesn’t happen by accident. It takes clarity, accountability, and a safe container for change.

That’s why in my coaching program, I guide high-achieving women of faith through the process of reconnecting—
To themselves, to God, and to the purpose they were designed to walk in.

We don’t just talk about spiritual power—we activate it.
Through mindset shifts, strategic rest, and practical boundaries, we dismantle the beliefs that keep you burnt out and start building a life that feels free.

Because faith isn’t just something we believe.
It’s something we live.

If this resonated with you...
If you are a high-achieving woman of faith who’s been running on empty and desires more spiritual power, I’d love to hear from you.

📩 DM me the word FREEDOM or use this link to schedule a free Discovery Call.

Let’s talk about how your spirit can be refueled, not just for survival—but for purpose.
I currently have a few 1:1 spots left open this season, and once they’re filled, I'll pause new onboarding.
If you’ve been feeling the nudge—now is the time.
Burnout can be reversed. Peace is possible.

God never stopped speaking.
You were just too burdened to hear Him.
But He’s still here.
And because of His grace, so are you.

With love and power,
Dr. Devin
liberatedpathscoaching.com 

P.S. 👋🏾 This space is sacred—and it’s growing.

We’re building toward deeper connection, real-time support, and a spirit-led sisterhood. Soon, I’ll be opening up new ways for us to walk this journey together—live gatherings, challenges, and healing-centered offerings that nourish both your spirit and your strategy.

Whether you’re here to be fed, to reflect, or to eventually join my coaching community, know that there is room for you here.

Stay close. You’ll be the first to know when the next layer of this vision unfolds.