Is Your Check Engine Light On?

The Quiet Nudge We Often Ignore

You know that moment when a tiny light flickers on your car dashboard and you think, I’ll deal with it later? Our souls have a dashboard, too. Fatigue that won’t lift. Irritability for no clear reason. A subtle distance from God that becomes easy to explain away.

What if those aren’t failures to hide—but signals of mercy? A gentle invitation from God to pause, breathe, and realign before something deeper breaks.

“You are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—indeed only one.”
— Luke 10:41–42

In the story of Mary and Martha, Jesus doesn’t scold; He recalibrates. That’s what mercy does. It waves us to the shoulder of the road before the smoke.

Signs Your Soul’s “Check Engine” Light Is On

• You feel unusually short-tempered or emotionally brittle.

• You’re busy but unproductive—lots of motion, little meaning.

• Your time with God feels rushed or optional.

• You default to fixing rather than listening.

• You can’t remember the last time you felt unhurried.

If you see yourself here, you’re not broken—you’re being beckoned.

Jesus’ Rhythm: Rest as Holy Practice

• “Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” (Mark 6:31)

• “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)

• “Come to Me, all you who are weary… and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

If the Son of God paused to pull over and realign, so can we.

Here's How to “Pull Over” This Week (Simple, Doable Steps)

1) A 5-Minute Reset
Sit in silence. No playlist. No plan. Put one hand on your heart, one on your belly, and breathe slowly for one minute. Whisper, “Here I am, Lord.”

2) Name the Heaviness
Write a single sentence: What feels heavy right now is… Then offer it back to God—out loud.

3) Trade Hurry for Presence
Choose one ordinary task (washing dishes, walking to the mailbox) to do unhurriedly with Jesus. Let it be prayer.

4) Build a Gentle Boundary
Pick one boundary that creates space with God: a phone-free first 15 minutes, a 10 p.m. lights-out, or a mid-day walk.

5) Close the Day with Thanks
List three small evidences of God’s care. No paragraphs—just three lines of gratitude.

A Guided Prayer

Lord, slow me when I rush past Your peace.
Teach me to see warning signs as grace, not guilt.
Lift what’s heavy, quiet what’s frantic,
and restore what’s worn thin.
I come to You for rest—heart, mind, and soul. Amen.

Reflection Prompts

• What signs—spiritual, emotional, or physical—have I been ignoring?

• Where is Jesus inviting me to pause instead of push?

• What single boundary would bring the most peace this week?

A Line to Carry

“Rest isn’t weakness; it’s where renewal begins.”

Keep Going Deeper

• 🎧 Listen to Episode 4: Is Your Check Engine Light On?

• 📖 Download the free Reflection Guide to journal, pray, and take one small next step.