Holy Hustle DetoxSample

Less Pretending, More Presence

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Spiritual performance is exhausting. If you’ve ever tried to keep up the “perfect Christian” image—always saying the right things, raising your hands just enough during worship (not too high, we’re not charismatic, not too low, we’re not disengaged), hiding your doubts, and pretending your faith is always Picture-ready—you know the grind. It’s like trying to run a marathon in a choir robe and heels. This is your sign: it’s time for a Holy Hustle Detox.

That tension between who we pretend to be and who we really are is exhausting.

And Jesus knew it.

The religious leaders He called out weren’t simply misguided—they were worn out. Worn out from white-knuckling righteousness. Worn out from managing appearances. Worn out from living double lives. Jesus described them as “whitewashed tombs”—fresh coat of paint on the outside, spiritually decomposing inside (look again at Matthew 23:27 if you're into metaphors that bite). But here’s the twist: in the very breath that exposes hypocrisy, Jesus offers relief. A lifeline. A nap for the soul.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened…”

Not: “Come once you’ve cleaned yourself up.”
Not: “Come when your faith is Instagrammable.”
Just… “Come.”

That’s it. That’s the bar. Just show up, as-is.

And the proof that He means it? Just look at the guest list He kept:
A woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11).
A crooked tax collector in a tree (Luke 19:1–10).
A Gentile mom with a demon-possessed daughter (Matthew 15:21–28).
People who couldn’t fake it even if they wanted to.

They weren’t invited because they had spiritual résumés. They were invited because they had need. And Jesus isn’t allergic to need. In fact, He seems drawn to it.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” — Psalm 34:18

“It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Mark 2:17

This is the heart of Jesus’ invitation. He didn’t come to build a fan club of flawless performers. He came to create a family of real people who are done pretending. If that’s you? You’re in the right place.

So what does it actually look like to trade performance for relationship? It might mean praying messy prayers instead of polished ones. Letting your doubts speak rather than stuffing them down. Inviting a friend into your struggle instead of curating your Sunday smile. Choosing truth—even when it’s not tidy.

When you do that, something holy happens. The mask slips—and the love holds. The burden of pretending lifts. And you begin to experience the rest Jesus wasn’t kidding about.

Is it uncomfortable at first? Yep.
Is it worth it? A thousand times yes.

The habit of authenticity takes time to build, especially if you've spent years mastering the Christian poker face. But Jesus’ invitation hasn’t expired. It still stands:

“Come to me…and I will give you rest.”

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways has maintaining a “perfect Christian image” worn you out emotionally or spiritually?
2. What are you most afraid might happen if you brought your full, unfiltered self to Jesus?
3. How might your relationship with God grow if you stopped performing and started being fully honest about where you’re really at?

Short Prayer:

Jesus, thank You for inviting me to come—not as a polished version of myself, but as I really am. I’ve spent too long performing, pretending, and trying to be spiritually impressive. I’m tired. And You already knew that. Help me lay down the image I’ve worked so hard to manage and step into the peace of being known and still loved. You didn’t run from broken people—you welcomed them. So here I am. Give me courage to stop faking it and start relating to You for real. Thank You for grace that holds me as-is. In Your name, I pray.

We hope this Plan encouraged you. This plan is based on "Sassy Jesus" by Heather Hair. See a side of Jesus you may not have noticed so much, link found here: Sassy Jesus: When Jesus Kept It Real