For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth.
Into the Text
Let’s be honest. Setting boundaries isn’t easy.
I’ve struggled with it most of my life. Maybe you have too. As women who love deeply and serve faithfully, we often feel torn between our desire to help and our need for rest.
We say yes because we care. We keep going because we don’t want to let anyone down. But slowly, quietly, the weight builds, and our hearts begin to whisper what we’ve tried to ignore: this has become too much. The burnout creeps in. The joy fades. And the peace we once felt starts to feel out of reach.
That’s why I love how Ecclesiastes 3 gently reminds us: God never asked us to do everything all at once, all the time, 24/7. In His perfect wisdom, He created rhythms—seasons for work and seasons for rest, times to speak and times to be silent, moments to show up, and moments to step back. There is freedom in knowing that not every need requires your yes. Sometimes, obedience looks like saying no. Maybe that request isn’t meant for you. Maybe it just isn’t the right time. Or maybe it is.
Setting boundaries isn’t about shutting people out. It’s about creating space to say yes to what God is actually calling you to do—and trusting that He will care for the rest.
I know—it’s hard. It takes courage to lovingly say, “I can’t do that right now.” It takes wisdom to know when to step back, even when others may not understand. But sweet friend, protecting your heart, your time, and your God-given purpose isn’t selfish. It’s stewardship.
God invites you to walk in step with Him, not in line with the expectations of everyone around you. When we live within the boundaries of His wisdom, we begin to breathe again. We begin to thrive. We begin to love from a place of peace, not pressure.
So today, ask Him to show you what needs protecting and where you need margin. And where it’s time to say no—so you can say yes to what truly matters.