In This Season: When the Light Feels Thin

It was barely 7:00 a.m., and I was already walking in circles. I stood in the kitchen, staring at the same three things on the counter I’d meant to put away last night. The sun hadn’t quite made it over the trees, the kids were stirring, and I had nothing in me but half a thought and a cold cup of coffee.

The thing is, I slept. I did. But somehow, I woke up tired—not the kind that a nap will fix, but that heavy-soul kind of tired. You know what I mean?

There are seasons when the light just feels thin. Like it’s trying to get through, but it’s got some kind of filter on it. And if I’m honest, I used to panic in those seasons. I’d hustle harder, try to outwork the weariness. Stack my schedule so I wouldn’t have time to notice how worn out I actually felt.

But I’ve started to learn something different.

You’re Not Broken—You’re Rooting Down

Not every season is for blooming. Some are for rooting.

And rooting isn’t glamorous. It’s slow, quiet, a little messy. It looks like doing the dishes when you’re low on motivation. It looks like sitting on the porch for ten extra minutes just to catch your breath. It looks like whispering a prayer under your breath when you don’t even have the words yet.

There’s this verse in Isaiah that’s become a lifeline for me:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” —Isaiah 30:15 (ESV)

Read that again.

Rest isn’t weakness. Trust isn’t passive. They’re strength—just not the kind the world praises. Not loud. Not visible. But absolutely, undeniably real.

Small Joys Count, Too

That morning, I didn’t fix everything. I didn’t check off my whole list or transform into some hyper productive version of myself. But I did this:

I made a fresh cup of coffee. I opened the window and let the breeze in.I noticed the way the light caught on the barn roof and reminded me that the world keeps turning, even if I feel a little off.

And then I smiled at the thought: God doesn’t need me to perform today. He just invites me to be present.

You’re Doing Holy Work (Even When It’s Small)

If you’re tired today—not the “I stayed up too late” tired, but the kind that lives in your bones—I want to remind you: You’re not broken. You’re not behind.

You might just be in a rooting season. And that’s not less spiritual or less faithful. It’s necessary. It’s sacred.

So light that candle. Read that one verse. Let the Spirit whisper instead of shout. The fruit will come, friend. But for now, let the roots grow deep.

🕊️ In this season, it’s okay to be a little slower, a little quieter. Grace doesn’t rush. Neither should you.

—The Rusted Sparrow