What if rest has become one of the most unpopular things we can admit to?

In a world that celebrates busyness, many of us feel guilty for slowing down. Especially as women in the middle seasons of life, the tiredness is real — in our bodies, our minds, and our hearts. Yet God designed rest as a necessary part of how we live and serve.

In this episode of Still Called, we look at three kinds of rest God built into our design:

• Rest in His presence

• Real physical rest and sleep

• The gift of a day set apart — the Sabbath

If you’ve been running on empty, pushing through, or quietly believing that rest is somehow less spiritual, this conversation is for you. You are still called — and learning to rest the way God designed is part of how He keeps you able to keep answering that call.

In the episode notes you’ll also find a free downloadable PDF I created for you. It’s a simple one-page guide that reminds us of the three kinds of rest God designed, plus a gentle habit tracker to help you begin practicing them. You can use it as a quiet companion as you start building new, godly habits of stewarding your body and health — so you can stay present and able for whatever season the Lord has placed you in.

https://stillcalled.live/?sdm_process_download=1&download_id=9

Still learning alongside with you,

Alya

What if moving your body isn’t mainly about fitness goals… but about staying able to serve and do the things God has given you to do?

In this episode we talk about movement as one practical way we care for the body God designed and called a temple of the Holy Spirit. From the beginning, God created us to be active — to work, to lift, to take care of what He placed under our responsibility. Today, modern comforts have made it easy to move far less than our bodies were made for.

We look at how dramatically daily steps have declined over the last 50–100 years, why strength training matters especially for women after 40, and how intentional movement supports not only our bodies but also our mood, clarity, and ability to stay present. We also talk about the difference between chasing numbers on the scale and taking faithful steps as an act of worship and stewardship.

You’ll hear a simple, doable way to begin this week — noticing your current steps and adding a little more, plus starting a short strength practice with just a few basic exercises.

If you’ve been feeling less able, more tired, or unsure where to start, this episode is a gentle invitation to move again — not for perfection, but so you can keep serving longer and remain a blessing in the season you’re in.

You are still called.

Workout Plan Page

A straightforward five-move strength plan designed for women. It includes clear instructions and form cues for the Squat, Bent-Over Row, Dumbbell Shoulder Press, Reverse Lunge, and High-Knee March, plus three ready-to-use levels—Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced—so you can start where you are and build from there. Rest 60–180 seconds between sets. Simple, consistent strength work that helps you stay able to answer the call.

https://stillcalled.live/?sdm_process_download=1&download_id=12

Mentioned episodes:

Ep.001 Still Called (Introduction) https://rss.com/podcasts/still-called/3210859

Ep.002 Still Called to Take Care for Your Temple https://rss.com/podcasts/still-called/3211103

Small facts in everyday life can quietly grow into heavy lies that steal our inner peace.

A skipped workout becomes “I’m a failure.”

One glance in the mirror becomes “I’m not enough.”

A sharp word to our children becomes “I’ll never change.”

In this episode we look at how easily we allow a single moment to overshadow everything else that is also true. I share honestly from my own life — including the lie that rises when I respond too harshly to my kids — and the Scripture that helps me return to truth (2 Corinthians 5:17).

You’ll be invited into a simple written exercise: write down three ordinary facts that often trigger hard feelings, name the exaggerated lie each one produces, and find a verse or truth that rewrites it.

I pray this episode helps you catch the cloud before it covers everything. The lies do not get the final word. You are still a daughter of the King, and you are still called.

Still learning beside you,

Alya

Before we try to fix everything with a new meal plan or workout routine, we have to care for the mind.

In this episode I talk about the order of priorities. As people of God, the mind must be renewed first. We explore what that renewal actually looks like — the deep realization that we are loved by the King of all kings, that we are worthy of care, and that we are daughters, not women who have to hold everything together alone.

Stress is real, especially in this season of life. The world offers hustle, control, or numbness. God offers a different way: casting our cares on Him and receiving the peace that guards our hearts and minds.

I share a practical step for when critical thoughts rise (especially in front of the mirror): say the harsh thought out loud, notice how unkind it sounds, have mercy on yourself, and bring it to the Father to rewrite.

I pray this episode helps you breathe a little deeper today. You don’t have to carry it all. You are still called, and His peace is available.

Still learning beside you,

Alya

For a long time I kept faith and the care of my body in two completely separate categories.

Fitness felt worldly to me — something driven by appearance, size, and comparison. Even as a believer, I struggled with the tension between contentment and wanting to take better care of myself.

In this episode I share how that began to change when I really saw 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit right now, and we were bought with a price. Caring for this body is not automatically vanity, and ignoring it is not automatically contentment. There is a third way — stewardship.

We look at the difference between the world’s way (control, hustle, vanity metrics) and God’s way (trust, hard work offered to Him, rest, eternal impact).

If you have ever felt conflicted about health, fitness, or your changing body, I pray this episode brings clarity and freedom. You are still called to care for the temple He has given you in this season.

Still learning beside you,

Alya