Healing Rest, Anxious Hearts, and the Spiritual Practice of Surrender—Becky Thompson on Soul-Level Burnout and Why Rest Isn’t a Reward

This is StRest! In this episode, Kerstin Lindquist welcomes bestselling author and founder of the Midnight Mom Devotional, Becky Thompson, for a powerful conversation about anxiety, motherhood, and the sacred, necessary practice of healing rest. Together, they unpack the guilt many women feel about pausing, the spiritual warfare behind stress, and why rest isn’t something we earn after completing the to-do list—it’s something we receive as a gift from God. Becky shares how she was led out of anxiety and panic through prayer, therapy, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance—and what it means to become a spiritual watchman over your inputs, media, and mental health. This episode is for every woman who’s carrying too much, waiting for peace to come “after the next thing,” or secretly wondering why, even after the season has changed, she still doesn’t feel whole. Major Themes & Concepts ✅ Rest is not a reward for finishing your work—it’s a gift from Jesus ✅ Why soul rest is deeper than sleep or time off ✅ Anxiety and fear as spiritual battles—and how to fight them practically ✅ Becoming a spiritual watchman over what you consume ✅ Why women often try to control instead of surrendering ✅ The dangers of tying your worth to your productivity ✅ How to “burp up trash” when you consume toxic inputs ✅ Why strong faith doesn't mean you don’t struggle ✅ The Mary vs. Martha dilemma—busyness vs. presence ✅ How to invite the Holy Spirit to help you manage your thoughts ✅ “Lie replacement” strategy to combat anxiety in real-time ✅ Using your voice as a weapon—declaring truth aloud Chapter Breakdown 00:00 – The Cost of Carrying Too Much 01:06 – Kerstin’s Daily Routine with Vita Hustle 02:54 – Becky’s #1 Takeaway for Moms and Caregivers 04:10 – From Bible School Dreams to Authoring 10 Books 06:40 – Following the Holy Spirit—Even When It’s Not a Book 07:35 – Resting in the Lord Is Not Optional—It’s Commanded 08:39 – Guilt, Caregiving, and the False Belief That Rest Must Be Earned 10:18 – Your Worth Was Established Before Your Work 11:35 – Why We Need Alignment, Not Just Strength 13:59 – “After This, I’ll Rest…” — A Dangerous Lie 16:32 – Becky’s Forest of Fear Vision and Her Own Journey Through Anxiety 20:40 – What It Means to Be Safely Held by God—Even in Unsafe Times 24:00 – Confessions of a Martha 27:37 – Tangible Tools for Managing Anxiety 30:37 – How to Reroute Catastrophic Thinking 33:45 – Faith in Outcomes vs. Faith in God’s Character 34:28 – Using Your Voice to Reject Fear 35:53 – How to Hold Both Joy and Pain in the Same Moment 40:04 – Becoming a Spiritual Watchman 42:51 – Immediate Relief: Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Reset Practices Work with Kerstin Workshops & Events – Join upcoming events & retreats. Health Coaching with Kerstin – 1:1 coaching for stress reduction & wellness. Resources & Recommendations Vita Hustle Protein  or  https://bit.ly/KERSTIN20 Use code KERSTIN20 for 20% off your first order Dr. Denese Skincare –   Use code STREST Partner Links & Discounts Apollo Neuro – Discount Code: KERSTINLINDQUISTLLC Lumen – Discount Code: CoachKL Ultrahuman – Discount Code: KERSTIN10 Connect with Becky Thompson Website: beckythompson.com Courses & Resources: beckythompson.teachable.com Instagram: @beckythompsonauthor Midnight Mom Devotional: Join the Community Books & Devotionals: Shop Now More about Kerstin Website: kerstin-lindquist.com Instagram: @kerstin.lindquist Facebook: Kerstin Lindquist YouTube: @Kerstin.lindquist TikTok: @kerstin.lindquist Production, Distribution, and Marketing By Massif Studio & Production & The Tallawah Group Website: www.massifsp.com LinkedIn: Massif Studio & Production Website: www.TallawahWorldwide.com LinkedIn: The Tallawah Group For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices