Wednesday

“For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.” — Ecclesiastes 2:23 (NKJV)

If you’ve ever lain awake at night with your mind racing about work—deadlines, finances, responsibilities you can’t seem to get ahead of—Solomon understands. He describes a man whose every day is filled with sorrow, whose labor is heavy, whose mind won’t shut off even in the dark.

This is burnout. And it’s not new.

We live in a culture that glorifies hustle. Stay busy. Grind harder. Rest is for the weak. But God never designed us to carry that kind of weight without pause. Even in the creation week, God Himself rested—not because He was tired, but to show us that rest is holy.

When work becomes all-consuming—when it steals your sleep, your joy, your peace—something has shifted. Work has moved from its proper place to the center of your life. And anything that takes the center belongs only to God.

Solomon isn’t condemning hard work. He’s warning us about work that owns us instead of serving us. There’s a difference between diligence and drivenness. One honors God. The other devours you.

Takeaway:

If your work is stealing your rest, it may be time to ask whether you’re working for God—or whether work has become your god.

Prayer:

Lord, I confess that I’ve let my work consume more of me than it should. Teach me the rhythm of labor and rest that You designed. Give me peace tonight. In Jesus’ name I pray, AMEN!