The Courage to Pause

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What does genuine courage look like in a season of exhaustion? Sometimes, the bravest decision is acknowledging our limits and embracing rest without guilt.

In this vulnerable and heartfelt episode, I share my difficult decision to temporarily pause the Courageous Overcomers podcast. After reflecting deeply during a recent anniversary trip with my husband, I've realized I don't know how to rest well—something many of us struggle with in our busy lives. The Lord has been showing me that my current season requires focused attention on my professional ministry work and team building, while also creating space to refill my cup spiritually and emotionally.

This pause isn't about quitting or abandoning our mission to shine Christ's light in the dark corners of trauma and addiction. Rather, it's about honoring Matthew 11:28 where Jesus invites the weary and burdened to find rest in Him. Even Jesus withdrew to quiet places, teaching us that stepping back can be an act of spiritual wisdom rather than weakness. For those feeling guilty about needing a break in your own lives, consider this your permission slip—rest isn't laziness; it's necessary recalibration with God.

During this hiatus, I encourage you to revisit past episodes that might speak to you in new ways, explore the five-day Heal and Cleanse journal workbook on my website, and stay connected through social media. Your stories and messages have been such encouragement, reminding me that God works through our honest struggles. When the time is right, I'll return refreshed and ready to continue our journey together. Have you found yourself needing permission to rest? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

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Link to 5 day workbook https://www.tonyashellnutt.com/2025-healing-cleanse

Episode Transcript

Tonya Shellnutt (00:06):
Hello, courageous Overcomers, I'm your
host, Tonya Shellnutt, and Iwant to come to you this week
with something a littledifferent.
I want to, first off, I want totake a moment and thank all of
you from the bottom of my heartfor walking this journey with me
.
You know, week after week, yourencouragement, your courage,

(00:28):
your messages, your emails, yourstories, the interviews they
all have reminded me that God isat work in all of us.
And this podcast, when westarted, it was never about
perfection, but it was all aboutobedience.
For me, it was something that Ifelt like the Lord wanted me to

(00:50):
do.
I felt, like, you know, intalking about trauma and
addictions and all the messystuff that nobody wants to talk
about, the Lord really put it onmy heart that we needed to talk
about it and that I needed toshare about it.
And so, in doing so, I wantedit to always be about the

(01:11):
shining shining the light ofChrist in the dark corners of
all of that messy trauma,addiction and fear, and
reminding the listeners that weare more than conquerors through
Christ, who loves us.
And so I've come to a currentseason in my life, and many of
you may have listened the weekbefore last.

(01:33):
And you know, I'm findingmyself in a place where the
Lord's calling me to focus moredeeply on the ministry work that
I've been entrusted with in myprofessional capacity.
And I've been pouring out in alot of places in my work, in my
family and in doing so I'm tired.

(01:54):
Just to be really honest withyou all, I'm tired and I, you
know, rich and I recently wenton that anniversary trip and it
was very eye-opening for me.
It made me really realize thatI don't know how to rest.
Well, and it's okay to rest.

(02:17):
You know, one of the thingsthat I always talk to my team
about in my professionalcapacity is leaning into the
momentum, going where themomentum is, and right now the
momentum for me in my ministryis genuinely on building my team
and the professional ministrywork that we're doing and making

(02:38):
sure that the legal doors ofthe gospel stay open.
And so, you know, matthew 11, 28says come to me all who are
weary and burdened, and I willgive you rest.
And we know that even Jesuswithdrew to quiet places and and
rest isn't quitting.
And that is so hard for me.
So so hard because I think restis oftentimes and I'm learning,

(03:02):
I look at it as being lazy, butI know that that's not it.
It is about recalibrating withGod, and so sometimes, you know,
we talk a lot on the podcastabout courage, and sometimes
courage looks like continuing,and sometimes courage looks like
pausing and trusting the Lordwith the unknown.

(03:23):
And you know, even you mightfind yourself in a similar place
.
Maybe you're weary and you feelguilty for needing a break, and
I just want to remind you thatit's okay to rest, and so, when
we look at the podcast, I wanteveryone to know that this is
just a temporary pause.
This isn't for forever.
I'm really seeking the Lord'sdirection and refilling my cup.

(03:47):
I'm spending time with myfamily and my husband, focusing
on the work that's before me,because it is ministry, and I'm
going to return when God saysit's time and I will be
refreshed and ready.
But in the meantime, I just wantto encourage you, those that

(04:07):
are my faithful listeners andmaybe some that are just coming
to this today, to go back andlisten to some of the past
episodes.
You know God might speaksomething new to you.
I still have the five-day Healand Cleanse journal workbook on
my website that you can go to.
I want you to stay connectedwith me on social media, share

(04:32):
an episode with someone who youknow you might come across who's
hurting and you know, maybe youare going through something and
you want to share with me whatyou're going through.
I want to hear it Because,again, I want us to remember
that we are overcomers andspeaking truth to our issues and

(04:52):
facing the pain is the mostimportant thing we can do, and
I've been so honored and blessedby so many that have come on to
the podcast and have beenvulnerable and shared their
stories about the pain thatthey've endured and what God has
done through them, and I don'twant to stop that.
I think there's a place for that, but for right now, we are

(05:14):
going to take a pause, and so Ijust want to thank you all for
being with me on this journey,and I look forward to the weeks
and days ahead when we resume atthe appropriate time, but in
the meantime, god bless you,thank you for all that you do,
and I just can't tell you howmuch I appreciate you all.

(05:37):
Thank you for joining us here on Courageous Overcomers with
Tonya Shellnutt.
Please remember to follow, likeand share this podcast.
To find out more about Tonya,go to her website at
tonyashellnutt.
com, or to ask a question aboutanything you've heard on today's
show.
Leave us a five-star review andyour message or email at tonya
at tonyashellnutt.
com.

(05:57):
Remember that'sS-H-E-L-L-N-U-T-T.
This podcast is produced by BobSlone Audio Productions.