When Your Willpower Runs Out
The first time I learned about circadian rhythms and energy levels, I’m pretty sure the sky cracked open and the angels started singing. 😅
I was a leadership major, and many of our courses focused on personalities, leadership styles, and the psychology behind how people are motivated. While I was learning a lot about how to engage others, I also realized something: I was learning a whole lot about myself.
Because suddenly, my 10AM grind hour and my 3PM burnout finally made sense.
And I remember thinking: How in the world did I not know this in my early 20s?! I was convinced from that day forward that I was going to schedule my high-priority items when my energy level was at its peak… and save the mundane busywork for when my internal clock hit that familiar dip.
Yeah… but then life started life-ing, right?
Not too long after my routines-and-circadian-clock awakening, reality hit: a full-time job, being a wife and mom, and going to school. I realized quickly that I didn’t have the flexibility to decide how each day would look.
So yes, routines were still in place… but more for my sanity (and my family’s too), rather than a strategic plan to “eat the frog” by 11AM.
And it didn’t take long for me to realize something else:
My willpower—my motivation—was constantly being drained.
With every decision… every appointment… every conversation… doctor’s visits… kids’ extracurriculars… and everything in between, I started finding myself on autopilot at random times of the day.
My will was… no longer.
And if you’re wondering… of course I felt like a failure. Not just a “bad day” moment—like an everyday kind of failure.
But here’s the thing… I don’t even think most of us realize what’s happening throughout the day.
We don’t always recognize that our willpower is waning… because we’re not paying attention to how much we’re carrying. How much we’re pushing. How much we’re forcing ourselves to power through when we were never designed to move through life in our own power.
Oh goodness, I feel overwhelmed just writing that.
Because when you think about it… we’re trying to run a God-sized life with human-sized strength.
And that’s why I’ve learned this: willpower isn’t enough.
Not because we aren’t capable…
But because we weren’t created to rely on ourselves the way we do.
God actually wants us to rely on Him.
And that’s where WHY-power comes in.
Because HE is our WHY.
HE is our worth.
HE is the One who strengthens us, sustains us, lifts us up, and brings healing and comfort to our lives.
The truth is, we cannot rely on willpower when we were designed to live on His power.
Which is why our mentality has to shift—not to “try harder,” not to “get it together,” not to push ourselves beyond what’s healthy…
But to consistently remember:
My WHY is in Him.
And that’s where true WHY-power comes from.
It’s our faith.
That moment when we pause in the middle of the chaos and remind ourselves:
My strength comes from the Lord.
My help comes from the Lord.
My peace comes from the Lord.
So yes… my power is from Him—therefore He is my WHY.
Always remember: He is your ever-present ALL.
Your Creator.
Your Fortress.
Your Rock.
Your Comforter.
Your Provider.
Your Redeemer.
Your Healer.
Your Prince of Peace.
And friend… I’m seriously just scratching the surface here.
This is why I’m so grateful for God and His promises on promises—and the way only He knows how to meet us where we are and pull us out of our pit of self-pity.
If you’ve been following me for some time, then you know one of my favorite passages is in 2 Corinthians 12, when Paul cries out to God and asks Him to remove the thorn in his flesh.
And even after Paul asked three times, God didn’t remove it.
Not because God is cruel… but because God designed us to rely on Him.
For strength.
For endurance.
For willpower.
For power that isn’t ours.
And I love this part so much because it reminds me:
Even when my willpower runs out… God’s WHY-power will NEVER run out.
He never gets tired. He's always consistent. And He's literally waiting for us to lay the burden on Him.
So if you’re feeling drained right now—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—listen:
You are not lazy.
You are not broken.
You are not a failure.
You are a beautiful human, created for a purpose by Him.
And you have a God who never intended you to do life in your own strength.
His grace is sufficient.
Even at 3PM.
Even when you’re overwhelmed.
Even when your motivation is gone.
He will meet you there. Always.
Praying for you 🤍
📖 Scripture of the Week
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9
In Love and Christ,
Dorene Elizabeth
If you’re craving something that gently points your heart back to God’s love—especially during a season when your strength feels low—take a peek at my Etsy shop 👇
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