I Can Do All Things…Really? Simple Steps to Burnout Recovery

millicentassoc
Jul 27
5 min read

What Philippians 4:13 Really Means—and Why It Might Be Time to Stop Doing “All Things”

(Part 2 of the “Learning to Pause Before You Power Down” Series)

— Millicent V. Brown

“What if doing ‘all things’ isn’t what God asked of you?”

Last week, we began our journey into spiritual stillness and burnout recovery. But here’s the truth: this kind of healing doesn’t happen all at once. It takes time… piece by piece, moment by moment, to unlearn the habits and expectations that taught us we had to do everything and be everything—for everyone but ourselves.

God is inviting us into a deeper healing. One that flows from the inside out. Because how can we help anyone else if we’re gasping for air ourselves?

Just like they say on airplanes: Put your oxygen mask on first.If we’re not breathing—spiritually, emotionally, or physically—how can we carry out His purpose? How can we walk in His will?

God never called us to perform. He called us to live.To be filled with His breath of life—moment by moment, day by day.

That’s exactly what Jesus modeled.He rested. He stepped away. He prayed.And in those quiet places, He received strength and clarity from the Father—so He could pour life into others from a full and surrendered heart.

This week, we continue the journey with a hard but necessary question:

Am I doing “all things”… or only the things God has actually assigned to me?

Let’s go deeper…

There’s a Scripture We Love to Quote

You’ve probably said it yourself—especially when facing something hard:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

— Philippians 4:13

We write it in journals. Post it on social media. Print it on mugs and t-shirts.

But recently, God whispered a question to my spirit:

“Can you really do all things? Or only the things I have assigned you?”

And suddenly, this verse hit me in a brand-new way.

Are You Doing “All Things”… or God’s Things?

For years, I thought being a faithful servant meant saying yes to everything.

✅ Every request.

✅ Every opportunity.

✅ Every burden someone tried to hand me.

I believed that if I didn’t show up for every person and every project, I was letting God down.

We love this Scripture, "I can do all things..." —but are we using it as God intended?

But here’s what I’ve learned:

God never asked me to do all things.

He asked me to do HIS things—not my things, or anyone else’s.

What Paul Really Meant

When Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ,” he wasn’t talking about chasing every opportunity or carrying every load.

He was talking about enduring every season—plenty or lack, joy or sorrow, comfort or hardship—because Christ gave him strength.

Paul wasn’t striving to be everyone’s rescuer.

He stayed laser-focused on the mission God had given him.

And when God said no to certain places or assignments, Paul obeyed.

My Personal Revelation

God recently showed me something profound:

“You can do all things—but only the things I’ve called you to do. Everything else is you getting in the way.”

Ouch.

Busyness can feel noble —but is it obedience or overload?

I realized that half the exhaustion I’ve carried hasn’t come from God’s assignments—it’s come from my own.

✅ From people-pleasing.

✅ From fearing I’d let others down.

✅ From thinking I was responsible for fixing everything and everyone.

Because in my striving, I’d forgotten something crucial:

God never created me to carry it all.

The Cost of Trying to Do “All Things”

Half my tiredness, my frustration, and my guilt have come from trying to carry things God never asked me to carry.

It sounds noble—being “all things to all people.”

But it’s dangerous.

The Myth of Multitasking

And here’s another truth God revealed to me:

“Man says multitasking is a plus—but the truth is, we can’t.”

God never created us to juggle a dozen things all at once.

Where in Scripture do we ever see Jesus multitasking?

He was fully present in each moment.

✅ When He taught, He was focused on teaching.

✅ When He healed, His eyes and heart were on the one in need.

✅ When He rested, He withdrew completely to be alone with the Father.

Even Jesus heeded the voice of His Father—and His own mind, body, and spirit—when they said:

“You’re tired… go away… rest.”

We often think we’re being productive by multitasking. But instead, we become scattered, weary, and spiritually drained.

And when we’re exhausted from all the busyness, guess what else shuts down?

Even the real, godly love we’re supposed to show and express.

Instead, our “serving” starts sounding like clanging cymbals.

✅ Complaints.

✅ Harsh words.

✅ Resentment.

✅ The silent sighs of a weary soul.

Remembering the Cross

Deep down, the guilt and shame creep in.

Because we know we’re spinning our wheels, trying to earn worth that God already gave us for free.

We stand naked before Him, just like Adam and Eve in the garden.

And God calls out:

“Adam… you… me… where are you?”

Sometimes, the real answer is simply:

“I’m too busy—to do Your will.”

But there’s hope.

Because at the cross, Jesus took on all the guilt, shame, and striving that didn’t belong to Him—so we could finally rest and simply be who God created us to be.

Signs You’re Carrying More Than God Assigned

Here’s how you know you might be trying to do “all things” instead of God’s things:

✅ You’re perpetually exhausted.

✅ You feel resentful toward people you’re “helping.”

✅ Your personal time with God is neglected.

✅ You feel anxious or guilty when you say no.

✅ You’ve lost the joy you once felt in serving.

When you’re doing too much, it’s okay to call for help. Help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom... it's obedience. — When you’re doing too much, it’s okay to call for help. **Help** **isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.**.. ***it's obedience.***

How to Discern God’s Assignments

I’m learning to ask a few simple questions:

Lord, is this my assignment—or someone else’s?
Do I have peace about this—or pressure?
Will this fit within the purpose You’ve shown me?
Is there grace for this—or is it draining me?

A New Declaration

So here’s my new affirmation:

I can do all things—through Christ who strengthens me—when those things are what He has called me to do.

And the rest?

I’m free to leave it in His hands.

Because only what I do for Him—and by His assignment—will last.

“Only one life, ’twill soon be past.Only what’s done for Christ will last.”— C.T. Studd

This echoes the truth of Colossians 3:23-24:

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.You are serving the Lord Christ.”

Freedom begins when we surrender what God never asked us to carry. Surrender is not giving up—it’s becoming aligned to God's will. — Freedom begins when we surrender what God never asked us to carry. **Surrender is not giving up—it’s becoming aligned to God's will.**

Let’s always be diligent to test every word against Scripture so that the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts are acceptable to Him.

🙏🏽 Prayer

Father,

Thank You for the strength You give me to fulfill Your purpose.Forgive me for picking up assignments You never gave me.Help me discern what is mine to carry and what is not.Teach me to find rest in Your boundaries and joy in obedience.May my life reflect Your peace—not my busyness.In Jesus’ name, Amen.