Finding rest as a Christian woman while building a business and birthing a baby

I’m currently pregnant (in my third trimester) and just finished running a women’s conference. Needless to say, the pressure was immense. There’s a constant battle between showing up for my business and tending to the very different requirements of motherhood. I naturally have an overactive mind. And my brain continuously goes back to my business baby.

I’ve had a lot of people tell me to slow down, stop, and rest. And physically, I’ve had no choice because I’m on crutches, my body has put its foot down. But what do you do when it’s your mind that won’t follow suit? How do you stop your mind from being overactive? How do you rest internally when you are juggling so much?

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As women, we carry layers of responsibility—some seen, others hidden. We’re birthing babies, building businesses, holding up households, and holding space for everyone else. The weight is not just physical, it’s mental, spiritual, and emotional. And when you’re in the thick of it, even rest feels like a luxury.

There’s something about being purpose-driven that doesn’t switch off. 

There’s something about being purpose-driven that doesn’t switch off. You wake up thinking about the next launch, the team you’re building, the people you’re helping. You fall asleep scrolling through to-do lists and unfinished dreams. It’s a beautiful burden - but a burden nonetheless.

Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.” Sometimes, the overactivity in our minds stems from a misplaced belief that if we don’t think it all through, it won’t happen. We’re going to struggle at times, but we must be conscious and intentional about giving control to God. Understanding that purpose, when truly surrendered, doesn’t rest on our shoulders - it rests on God’s.

We must remember: God never asked us to carry everything at once. 

We must remember that God never asked us to carry everything at once. He invites us to co-labour with him, not collapse under the weight of our own expectations.

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There’s guilt that comes with being a mother in business. When I’m answering emails, I wonder if I should be reading children’s stories. When I’m playing with my children, I wonder if I should be launching the next product. And as my belly grows, I’m also aware that I’m stewarding more than one kind of birth. Both require care, time, and attention.

But even Jesus stepped away from the crowds. He withdrew to quiet places, not because the work wasn’t important, but because he understood rhythm. “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Rest is not a reward. It’s a requirement.

Rest is also internal. It’s not just about naps and breaks (though those help); it’s about releasing control, even when the world around you feels chaotic.

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How to find internal rest

1. Anchor your mind in the Word

The Word of God is living and active. When our minds are spinning, scriptures are stabilisers. “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you” (Isaiah 26:3). Meditating on scripture creates a holy pause in a noisy mind.

2. Create boundaries without shame

Not everything is urgent. Not every idea needs birthing right now. There is grace for this moment. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us there’s a time for everything under the sun, including a time to refrain.

3. Give yourself permission to be human

The Proverbs 31 woman is not a stick to beat ourselves with. She is an example of divine capacity. But even she had help. “She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants” (Proverbs 31:15). You don’t have to be everything to everyone. You just need to be present to what God has assigned in this season.

4. Rest as Worship

Rest is a declaration of trust. When we rest, we say, “God, I trust You to handle what I cannot.” That’s not laziness, that’s faith.

So, to the woman who is building and birthing at the same time, know that God sees you. He sees your tears in the night and your strategies in the morning. He honours your faithfulness. You are not failing by resting. You are stewarding the season. It’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to do less. Even Jesus took naps in storms. And perhaps the most powerful thing we can model to our children, to our team, and to ourselves is what it looks like to thrive without burning out.