Exposing the Productivity Gospel™: The Hidden Root of Burnout, Anxiety, and Spiritual Exhaustion

In this episode of Prescription for Purpose, we expose how burnout, spiritual disconnection, and emotional exhaustion are often the result of spiritual misalignment, not lack of effort. God isn't punishing you—He’s pruning you to protect your stamina, preserve your fruit, and realign your pace with the Spirit.We unpack: Why “leaves without fruit” (Mark 11) might be draining your calling How pacing is a spiritual discipline rooted in Galatians 5:25 The danger of confusing busyness with fruitfulness What grapevines, pruning shears, and Jesus’ own timeline teach us about sustainable growth Why permissible ≠ profitable (1 Corinthians 10:23)If you’ve been feeling stuck, burnt out, or overwhelmed—even while serving, building, or “doing the most”—this episode will help you discern what needs to be cut, redirected, or reconstructed.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you exhausted but still pushing? Doing “all the right things” but still anxious, resentful, or numb? You may be trapped in the Productivity Gospel™—a deceptive belief system that’s stolen peace from an entire generation of believers.In this powerful episode of Prescription for Purpose, we expose how the Productivity Gospel™ distorts God’s truth by tying your identity to your output. It masquerades as obedience and excellence, but underneath it breeds burnout, shame, and spiritual confusion.This isn’t a message about tweaking your schedule. This is a call to repent, reset, and return to the truth: that your value is inherited, not earned.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dr. Sharla returns to the mic with one of the most vulnerable and faith-filled episodes yet. After walking through a season marked by devastating loss—the passing of her beloved dog Kayla and her Nana—Sharla opens up about what it really takes to move forward when obedience to God costs you emotionally.If you’re tired of feeling stuck in cycles of overthinking, procrastination, or delayed obedience, this episode is your invitation to get honest about what’s really holding you back: emotional resistance, not lack of clarity. Through the lens of personal grief and powerful biblical truths (Joshua 1, Philippians 4, John 3:16, and more), Sharla unpacks:Why courage—not clarity—is the missing link in your spiritual growthThe emotional cost of obedience and why grief is often the first fruit of courageHow people-pleasing, avoidance, and overthinking are signs of protecting your comfort—not your callingThe biblical strategy for moving forward when you’re scared, sad, or simply exhaustedHow to process multiple emotions at once and let God’s peace and grief coexistWhether you’re grieving a loss, facing a hard decision, or wrestling with delayed obedience, this episode offers practical tools and honest encouragement to help you step into God’s calling—even when it hurts. Plus, you’ll get a transformative journal prompt to help you move from spiritual paralysis to courageous action, grounded in Scripture.Tune in for real talk about faith, feelings, and the freedom that comes from obeying God, even in your most vulnerable moments. If you’ve been waiting for a sign, let this episode be the nudge to trade comfort for courage and experience breakthrough on the other side of grief.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You’ve been faithful, obedient, and consistent—but you still feel spiritually dry, emotionally disconnected, and overwhelmed by the very thing you prayed for. If you’re wondering why God feels silent or why your blessings feel heavier than expected, this episode is your confirmation: you are not off track.In Part 2 of this powerful series, Dr. Sharla unpacks the final three signs that you're not lost—you've arrived. You’re in your Promised Land, and what you’re feeling is the stretch of maturity, not the consequence of misalignment.Inside This Episode:Why being stretched to lead (not just follow) is a marker of spiritual maturity (Joshua 18:3)How to tell when God is calling you to build structure—not just seek supportWhat it means to embody your faith even when you don’t feel emotionally stimulatedHow to stop confusing God’s trust with divine distanceThe importance of boundaries, justice, rest, and spiritual order in sustaining your purposeHow to regulate your nervous system so your spirit—not your emotions—leads your decisionsThe difference between disconnection and development in your walk with GodThis episode is for the woman who's not getting daily confirmation but knows she's been called. If you’re questioning your peace, your purpose, or your place, this is your divine reminder: God hasn’t left you—He’s leading you differently.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you doing everything “right”—praying, obeying, showing up for your calling—but still feel spiritually dry, disconnected, or numb? If you’ve ever asked, “Where is God in all of this?”, this episode is for you.In this powerful and practical teaching, Dr. Sharla breaks down why emotional silence from God isn’t a sign you’re off track—it may be the clearest proof that you’re finally in your Promised Land. Backed by Scripture and real-life wisdom, this episode helps you recognize the signs of spiritual maturity and divine assignment, even when your feelings say otherwise.Inside this episode:What it really means when you can’t feel God like you used toWhy stepping into purpose doesn’t always come with peace or emotional highsThe shift from passive provision to participatory purpose (Joshua 5:12)How to recognize strategic resistance as confirmation—not punishmentThe difference between spiritual warfare and internal compromiseWhy difficulty doesn’t mean disobedience—and how to know the differenceHow to stop retreating when God is calling you to advanceWhether you’re battling doubt, burnout, or spiritual confusion, this episode will help you clarify your position, reclaim your authority, and stay rooted—even when it’s hard.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you walking in obedience—but still feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, or stuck in survival mode? You might be in your Promised Land—but with Eden expectations. In this episode, Dr. Sharla breaks down why purpose often feels hard, even when you're exactly where God called you to be.Drawing from the book of Joshua, faith-based mental health principles, and trauma-informed insight, Dr. Sharla helps high-achieving Christian women reframe their frustration, reset their expectations, and stop mistaking divine process for personal punishment.Inside this episode:Why stepping into purpose doesn’t mean stepping out of pressureThe biblical and emotional difference between Eden and the Promised LandWhat spiritual burnout looks like—and why it’s not a sign you missed GodHow to recognize resentment and disillusionment before they sabotage your callingThe psychology of hypervigilance, spiritual fatigue, and trauma in high-functioning believersWhat to do when your nervous system doesn’t trust the peace you prayed forWhether you’re struggling with spiritual exhaustion, doubting your calling, or questioning if you misunderstood God, this episode will help you re-center your faith, stay rooted in purpose, and move forward with clarity and courage.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelGet The NLT Study BibleSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you spiritually busy but emotionally empty? In this episode, Dr. Sharla continues the Four Horsemen of Spiritual Sabotage series with the final two patterns that may be keeping you stuck in cycles of performance and shallow repentance: Performance Without Purpose and Confession Without Conviction. These aren't obvious sins—they're subtle saboteurs that look like faithfulness but leave you exhausted, bitter, and disconnected from God.Drawing from scripture, clinical insight, and lived experience, Dr. Sharla reveals how these horsemen feed on religious pressure, trauma conditioning, and spiritual perfectionism—and how you can break free.Inside This Episode: What performance-based faith really looks like—and why it’s stealing your joyHow confession can become a form of avoidance when it lacks conviction and actionThe emotional roots behind these patterns, including rejection, people-pleasing, and shameWhy Martha was overwhelmed, but Mary was transformed—a fresh look at Luke 10How to shift from religious hustle to relational rest through unproductive prayer, redefined success, and identity as God’s daughterIf you’re stuck in a cycle of doing, striving, and confessing—but never seeing lasting change—this episode will give you the clarity and tools to expose the lies, break the patterns, and rebuild your faith with intention, freedom, and intimacy with God.“Confession without change isn’t humility—it’s sabotage. God wants transformation, not just transparency.” – Dr. SharlaResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you doing all the right things—reading your Bible, praying, serving—but still feeling spiritually stuck, dry, or disconnected? In this episode, Dr. Sharla breaks down the first two of the Four Horsemen of Spiritual Sabotage that secretly undermine your faith: Information Without Intimacy and Obedience Without Revelation. Drawing from scripture, psychology, and her own experiences, Dr. Sharla exposes how these subtle patterns look like faithfulness but are actually faith killers.Inside this episode:How knowing about God without knowing Him can leave you feeling empty.Why doing the “right things” for God without true connection can turn your faith into a checklist.The sneaky ways shame, perfectionism, and fear of rejection keep you spiritually stuck.Practical steps to replace transactional faith with real relationship and transformation.A powerful reflection on the older brother in the story of the Prodigal Son—and how his obedience became a burden.Whether you’ve been feeling dry in your prayer life, struggling with burnout from over-serving, or wrestling with feeling like God isn’t showing up, this episode will help you identify what’s been sabotaging your spiritual growth—and give you tools to break free.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you doing everything you know to do—praying, serving, staying strong—but still feel disconnected, overwhelmed, or exhausted? In this episode, Dr. Sharla breaks down three more hidden survival strategies that look like strength but are actually stunting your spiritual growth: hyper-independence, over-functioning, and emotional withdrawal.These high-achieving, high-functioning patterns are common among Christian women who appear confident and capable but are silently carrying unbearable mental and emotional weight.Inside this episode:How hyper-independence looks like faith, but really keeps you isolated and overwhelmedWhy over-functioning feels like serving but leads to burnout and bitternessThe danger of emotional withdrawal—why shutting down isn’t the same as having peaceReal talk about the emotional cost of carrying burdens God never gave youPractical steps to identify your survival strategies and start breaking freeThis isn’t a call to do more—it’s an invitation to see clearly. If you’re tired of feeling like you’re always in survival mode, this episode will help you recognize what’s keeping you stuck and give you the clarity you need to finally step into true healing.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you doing all the “right” things—praying, journaling, setting boundaries—but still feel numb, stuck, or spiritually disconnected? In this episode, Dr. Sharla breaks down two hidden survival strategies that feel faithful on the surface but are actually sabotaging your growth: spiritual bypassing and performative healing.These high-functioning patterns are common among Christian women who look like they’re thriving—but feel emotionally hollow behind the scenes.Inside this episode:What survival mode looks like when you’re still showing upThe difference between quoting scripture and being transformed by itWhy your healing journey might be driven by fear, not faithHow spiritual performance blocks intimacy with GodReal talk on control, shame, and the emotional cost of staying stuckThis isn’t a call to “try harder”—it’s an invitation to see clearer. Before you create another healing plan or set another goal, hit play on this diagnostic deep dive so you can start healing for real.Life Update: Dr. Sharla also shares how God carried her through one of the hardest seasons of her life—including graduating while working, studying, and rebuilding after deep personal transition.ResourcesTake the FREE Spiritual Wellness Check-InJoin the Purpose CollectiveJoin the The Society: Our Discipleship CommunitySubscribe to the YouTube ChannelSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/rxforpurpose/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy