Religion Is Exhausting

By Ajit Christopher

Jan 28, 2026

I grew up in a pluralistic, multi-religious society in India. I was around a lot of folks from other religions - Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Jains, and Sikhs. And here was my biggest takeaway: religion looked exhausting.

Take my Muslim friends in high school. During Ramadan, they fasted from sunup to sundown. No food, no water, not even swallowing their own spit. By the end of the day, they were completely fried. But they endured and pushed through because they believed obedience would deepen their connection with God.

The Hindus were even harder to watch. I lived in a second-floor apartment on a street corner, right at the intersection of two busy roads. Directly across from us was a tiny hole-in-the-wall temple, barely big enough for an idol. Every single person who walked past it stopped. Some folded their hands in respect. Some knelt. Some fully prostrated themselves - right there on the street. And then there were the extreme expressions. On certain holy days, people would literally walk on fiery hot coals laid out in the street, believing that enduring pain would curry favor with God. Other times, massive idols were placed on carts, and men would pull them through the streets with ropes, straining their bodies, showcasing their devotion.

Religion was exhausting. People striving, enduring, suffering, proving - hoping they had done enough to please God and to stay in His favor.

But here’s the honest part. At that time, I didn’t fully understand how different Christianity was from the religions around me. I went to church. I did the right things. I checked the boxes. I was categorized as a “good kid.” A “spiritual kid.” But in many ways, I hadn’t grasped the beauty or the uniqueness of the gospel or quite understood how profoundly life-giving and restful following Jesus was supposed to be.

That radical nature is captured in Jesus’ invitation in Matthew 11:28–30:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Jesus doesn’t say these words in a vacuum. He is speaking into a world where religion was exhausting. First-century Judaism had turned faith into a heavy system of rules, expectations, and performance. Jesus enters that world, and He redefines it. He offers His yoke. Not one built on rule-keeping or performance, but one rooted in a relationship with Him. A life lived in close, ongoing dependence on Him.

Here’s the crux of it: The foundational rhythm of Christianity is not burdensome or frenetic spiritual activity, but rest in the finished work of Jesus, and a real, dynamic relationship with Him through daily abiding.

I want to dwell on this word, abiding (Gk. menō, meaning to stay, to remain, to dwell), because it sits at the heart of Jesus’ invitation. Let’s take a closer look at what abiding means and how this breathtaking reality is revealed in Scripture and lived out in our lives.

Abiding is an invitation into the communion God Himself enjoys: Abiding flows from the very nature of God. Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus speaks of His union with the Father and invites us into that same intimate connection (John 10:38; 14:10–11; 17:21–23). This abiding presence is made tangible through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in us and is now the evidence that God abides with us (John 14:17; 1 John 3:24).

Abiding with His people is God’s desire throughout the storyline of the Bible: From Genesis to Revelation, God has always wanted to dwell among His people. God dwelt with Adam and Eve in the garden until fellowship was broken by sin. In the wilderness, God instructed Israel to build a tabernacle so He could dwell among them (Exodus 25:8). God later chose to dwell with Israel in the temple (1 Kings 8:27; 9:3; Psalm 132:13–14). In the incarnation, Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Today, if you are a believer, you have union with Christ and are called to abide in Him (John 15:1-11). And the final, ultimate expression of God’s abiding presence is still coming: the new heavens and the new earth, where God’s dwelling place is fully and finally with His people (Revelation 21:3).

Abiding acknowledges Jesus as the source of life and staying connected to Him as the secret to a fruitful life: Abiding begins with recognizing Jesus as the true source of life and growth for God’s people (John 15:1). Bearing fruit, then, is about staying connected to Him, not striving or performing (John 15:4–5). Only Jesus can make fruit grow in our lives. All meaningful spiritual growth and victory come by drawing from His presence and power.

Abiding brings blessing to us and glory to God: Jesus highlights three blessings for those who abide: answered prayer (John 15:7), an ongoing experience of His love (John 15:10), and fullness of joy (John 15:11). And because Jesus is the one producing fruit in our lives, God receives great glory when we abide and grow spiritually (John 15:8).

Abiding is inseparable from knowing and obeying God’s Word: Abiding in Jesus means His words are abiding in us (John 15:7). Intimacy with Jesus is formed as we remain in His Word, listening, meditating, and allowing it to shape our lives. Obedience is not separate from abiding but flows from it (John 15:10; 1 John 3:24).

How Do We Abide?

Scripture points us to intentional rhythms that help us abide. These are what we often call spiritual disciplines. Spiritual disciplines are practices that promote growth in our walk with God and help us abide in Him. They are not a means of earning God’s approval, nor do they carry power on their own. Rather, they create space for God to work in our lives.

This is how I think of spiritual disciplines. You’re on a sailboat. You know the destination. It’s a beautiful day. There’s a light wind. You steer into the wind and unfurl the sails. The wind moves you forward. Spiritual disciplines are the sails. They help us tap into the wind of God’s Spirit.

Some of these disciplines are inward practices that help us slow down, stay attentive to God, and remain connected to Him: prayer, reading the Word, meditation, fasting, silence and solitude, confession, worship, and Sabbath rest. If you want to explore these further, I’ve included a few of my favorite books on spiritual disciplines below.

So, how do we use spiritual disciplines to help us abide? Abiding requires intentionality - it will not happen accidentally. The system of this world is constructed to pull us away from abiding with God, and the enemy is hard at work to distance us from Him, so we must make it an intentional, daily pursuit. And when we create space to remain in Christ, He does the work of shaping us, growing us, and bearing fruit in us.

So, begin by creating a simple plan to help you grow in the practice of abiding.

Start by choosing two or three spiritual disciplines you want to intentionally practice or deepen. Start where you are and set goals that are within reach. Slow, incremental growth often seems to be God’s method of transformation, so don’t discount the cumulative impact of small steps of faithfulness. If you are reading Scripture occasionally, create a plan to engage with it more consistently. Incorporate rhythms of prayer and fasting. Take a few minutes during your day to practice silence and solitude.
Consider using technology to support and reinforce these new habits. A Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible app can help establish consistency. Apps like Remember Me can assist with Scripture memorization, and PrayerMate is a great tool for organization and discipline in prayer.
And just as importantly, choose one or two habits to decrease in order to create space for God. Pay attention to what unintentionally crowds out time with Him: endless scrolling on social media, constant notifications, late-night screen time, or mindless news consumption. Overly busy schedules can also crowd out space for abiding when too many commitments leave little margin for time with God.

Religion is exhausting. But Jesus offers a radically new way of living: Abide in Him.

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