Slow Down to Speed Up: Why Spiritual Rest Is Your Launchpad

The day revival broke out at our church was the first Sunday I wasn’t on stage leading.

I was crushed and confused. 'Revival' was why I'd been hustling so hard.

And in that moment of surrender that day, God gave me a vision that flipped all my burnout logic on its head.

I saw myself scrambling up a rocky path, desperate to reach a mountaintop dream—sweaty, driven, all in my own strength.

You know the feeling, right? Push harder. Do more. Hustle till it happens.

But then God whispered: “Kelsi, I want to get you there more than you do. My way is faster—and way more fun.”

And in the vision? He invited me to sit back in a giant CATAPULT. 🪂 I literally sat down in my chair, it felt so real and clear. No more striving—just surrendering and letting Him launch me in His timing.

Soon after, I lost my job. And I kept wondering… “God, are You sidelining me?”

Turns out—He was positioning me. Untangling my identity from performance. Healing my hustle. Teaching me the pace of peace.

I’ll be honest—letting go of striving stirred up all my FOMO and insecurity (aka, putting security in the wrong thing). But when I leaned into Him in that most uncomfortable place, everything changed.

Remember Martha?

Of course I had to bring her up on a topic like this. 🤓 When Martha was spinning in to-dos, her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. But as I learned in my own journey, Jesus gently called her out never to scold but only to draw her in:

“You are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about” —Luke 10:41-42

👉 That one thing? Connection over chaos. Presence over pressure. Just Jesus.

I know, easier said than done, right? 🙋🏼‍♀️

We fall for the lie that “if I just do enough, I’ll finally feel peace.” That work now, rest later mode keeps us hustling until we burn out, and, hello resentment.

But peace comes from encounters in Jesus' presence. When we trust His rhythm, He can move us faster with our surrender than we ever could with our striving.

We chase “more” when the real more is already planted in us—alive through spiritual rest, trust, and abiding in Him.

“God will continually revitalize you, implanting within you the passion to do what pleases Him.” — Philippians 2:13

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” — Isaiah 30:15

In God’s Kingdom: Real strength = Quiet trust. Real acceleration = Spiritual rest.

In that healing season, I learned that progress in God’s kingdom isn’t measured by hustle but by alignment with His Spirit. 

This wasn’t just theory for me—God met me right on the floor. Literally.

I’ll never forget the moment...

Worship music played from my phone as I collapsed on a pile of clean laundry. I was crying and overwhelmed. I asked God to meet me there, to remind me of my worth, to breathe life back into me. And He did.

He whispered, “Kelsi, let Me love you. Drop the striving. Just be with Me.”

That moment marked me.

I began building in abiding moments—worship filling my home, prayer journaling, sitting with my kids agenda-free, walking slower, listening more. I even went on a 5-day solo retreat with Jesus (where my introverts at?! 🙌🏼) and found deeper healing than I knew I needed.

The Revival Life Signature Course gave me tools to keep growing, deeper insight, emotional healing, and quadruple breakthroughs. I learned I wasn’t powerless against anxiety. I had a choice and a clear path forward—to align with life and let the Spirit lead.

Slow ≠ Stuck.

Sometimes God pulls you back to launch you further. 🪂

He's doing a worthy deep work to bring abundant freedom, strength, and wholeness.

I had to understand that slow isn’t bad and God is trustworthy. 

“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Rest isn’t wasted time. It’s kingdom strategy. It's how we grow deep roots, hear Him clearly, and move forward with power.

That slow pace you fear? It might just be your launchpad.

And now? I’ve got a renewed marriage. Deep connection with my kids. Ministry moments that feel alive. Space to breathe. Wild open doors. Provision I didn’t burnout for. And the kind of joy and confidence I used to only pray for.

That’s what abiding in Jesus can produce.

The truth?

God cares more about your fruit than your speed. Hustle ≠ fruit. Abiding = fruit.

And remember, the Bible describes fruit as love, joy, and peace—not checking off the list. 🧐

And the dreams He planted in you? He knows how to activate every one of them. His pace, His presence, His power—they lead to more than you can imagine.

So where’s your laundry moment?

Where is He inviting you to drop the load and rest?

Maybe it’s:

• Letting go of the pressure to produce

• Trusting that rest is productive

• Taking the leap into surrender so He can catapult you forward 🦸🏼‍♀️

Because Jesus didn’t leave you to figure it out. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide, comfort, and empower you.

You’re not behind. You’re being positioned! 🚀

The Kingdom pace will get you further—with way more joy—than your grind ever could.

To your launch forward,

Kelsi 💛