You Were Never Meant to Do It All: A 40-Day Devotional on the Goodness of Being Human

by Kelly M. Kapic

Are you exhausted, anxious, and sick of feeling like you should always be doing one more thing?

In You Were Never Meant to Do It All, Kelly Kapic is here to help--not with the latest time management advice but with a refreshing approach to embracing the truth that God never intended for us to do it all.

Readers flocked to Kapic's award-winning 2022 book, You're Only Human. Now, Kapic's message is back in the form of 40 daily devotions--each with a meaningful quote and reflection questions. Kapic shows that our human limitations are not sinful but rather that God purposefully designed humans to have limits and depend on one another. Rightly appreciated, these good limits promote freedom, joy, growth, and community.

As readers take this 40-day devotional journey, they will follow a path to more holistic living that fosters a vision for healthy self-understanding, life-giving relationships, and meaningful contributions to the world.

Genres: Devotional, Christian Living, Christianity, Christian, Nonfiction, Theology

176 pages, Hardcover

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[Michael Philliber · Rating 5 out of 5]

While strolling around in the exhibit hall during our denomination's General Assembly, I happily came across the booth for Covenant College. They were freely handing out copies of Kelly M. Kapic's new 176-page hardback, "You Were Never Meant to Do It All". Forty days worth of readings that "pay attention to the most neglected aspect of our good creaturely existence - our appropriate limits" (3). Each day includes 850 words or less, and then ends with reflective questions to aid readers and reading groups to find ways to be shaped by the material that day. The driving theme brings us to recognize our God-created, creaturely limits, and ask ourselves daily: are we required to overcome those "perceived shortcomings" (7)?

Since God, from the very beginning, made us to be a dependent people, who because of our creatureliness are vulnerable (140-142), we have limits. And God even went so far as to say it was all very good! Therefore, we are not expected by God to be omnicompetent, omniscient, omnipotent, etc. Those are God's characteristics. But coming to see our own finitude is part of our faithfulness, and being faithful in our finitude is what we were made to be. "Our finitude is not a sin" (12)! Oh, what a breathe of fresh air this book was for a busy, energizer bunny minister!

Of all the subjects I could highlight (and there are a number), here are three that made me smile. First, we're to take a look at our belly buttons. Why? Because it is a physical reminder that we are not a self-made people, but we are creatures, 'creations' of a mother and father, and thus life is a gift to be received. This includes our bodies, sex, hair color, and more. Gifts to be received, not problems to be overcome. Second, we should come to perceive that problems and frustrations in life coexist with God's gifts. As we do so, we grow in biblical realism. This biblical realism means we can rightly lament our grief, and reach heavenward with gratitude. The reason? In both grief and gratitude we see clearly our limits and that we really do depend on the only God who rescues us. Third, As we do this, we can flourish in the promise that the Lord is at hand, that God is near. And those "who really believe God to be near are not panicked people, not cruel or easily angered, but reasonable and even gentle" (144). So much more in these pages, but those three lifted my heart.

This volume can be used in groups, as well as individually. It is essential reading and embracing for my fellow supermen and wonderwomen who think - as I have often been prone to do - that they must have super powers to please God. It might just make you cry with relief. Yep, it just might. I recommend this book without hesitation.

I'm thankful that Covenant College gave out free copies, and that I was able to snag one. If you don't know Kelly Kapic, he is professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Look Out Mountain, Georgia. He also has written several other books that are worth your time.

[Cooper Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like a breath of fresh air. I kept returning to this simple truth that I forget all too often:

“God likes how he made you. It’s sin that is the problem! It distorts who we were meant to be… God doesn’t love us because of Christ’s work or the Spirit’s renewing presence; Calvary and Pentecost are evidence of the overflow of God’s love for us, not the basis of it.”

[Brogan Gaskill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more of a 4.5 than a 4. Great devotional.

[Erin Ching · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see several reviewers use the phrase "breath of fresh air", and i would agree with that - in our society where achieving and being busy are so prized, so nice to read a book about how God made us with limits and all the ways we can and should embrace this.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this devotional at times wondered from one topic to another, I appreciated the overall theme represented by the title—that as humans we are designed to have limits. These limits are not meant to be viewed with disdain or embarrassment but are God designed and can help us to push into embracing rest, Sabbath, and dependence on God and others in a healthy way. I especially liked the last entry on the idea of Sabbath.

[Tim Goldsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 40 day devotion, Kelly Kapic explores the idea of human finitude as a design feature not a design flaw... Over almost seven weeks, he takes the reader through the Bible, through a range of quotes by great thinkers, and with some insightful questions at the end of each devotion, the reader also gets to think about their own circumstances.
I found this a wonderful and helpful book, particularly for anyone who is struggling with the relationship between their capacity and their identity.

[Parker James Lipetska · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an author I always recommend. He’s thought-provoking, challenging, and winsome. I wish more Christians would read his work, because he addresses struggles I see so many Christians facing today. His book You’re Only Human especially challenged me and left a lasting impact.

[Cameron Rebarchek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having previously read Kapic's You're Only Human, I was excited for the opportunity to read through this accessible approach to the same content. In both of these works, Kapic tackles our need to recognize and embrace our God-given limitations, to realize our finitude and humanity are both gifts to us.

The full-length You're Only Human is an excellent and highly recommended read, but I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated this reworked version in You Were Never Meant to Do It All. First, it made the content bite-sized and palatable. For someone who might already be wrestling with the demands on their time, an abridged and easier-to-read format would surely be welcomed. As Kapic accentuates in the introduction, each entry is 850 words or less, so they do not take long to read. Second, the formatting into a 40-day devotional allows the content to be more slowly digested. Embracing our limitations and reworking our mindset to see them as gifts is certainly a process. The format of this devotional, then, creates the space for that work to take place.

Each day's reading also includes several questions for reflection, which make for great journaling prompts and interactive experiences with the reading. As such, this devotional would be either a great companion to anyone reading You're Only Human or as its own stand-alone read. One does not need to have read or to be reading the other work to fully appreciate and benefit from the content of this devotional.

If you feel the expectations placed upon you, either rightly perceived or not, have become too much to bear—If you have ever wondered what it is God expects of you exactly—I strongly encourage you to slow down and pick up this devotional. Do the work within it and allow your wrestling with the content and questions to help you see the beauty that comes in humbly acknowledging you cannot do it all nor were you ever meant to.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Baker Press for the opportunity to read through this advanced reader's copy in exchanged for my honest review and opinion.

[Tanner Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read "You're Only Human" by Kapic first and ending up leading a book club, of sorts to extend the ideas beyond my own heart because of the ways in which I felt convicted, challenged, comforted, and cared for by his words. When this devotional format of similar content came out, I knew I would enjoy the bite sized morsels of wisdom on a daily basis.

Kapic does a great job of making old things feel new again as he invites us to a wholistic view of both God and ourselves. To be told you are finite almost feels like a put down, but the invitation is to become just the right size. Not to big, not to little. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are strong and capable, delightful and glorious. AND you are vulnerable, often weak. You need to lie your head down and rest. You need others and the Lord to care for you when you cannot. All of this he remind us is a feature of the system, not a bug! God made us this way to draw us into the things in life that matter the most. Loving relationship with God and others. You were never meant to do it all, and you were never meant to do it alone. Jump into this devotional to be reminded of the glory and humility of being a human. Who knows, your while life might start to hum at the pace it was meant to, driven forward, steadily by love and grace.

[Daehla Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

We often get caught up in our daily lives, trying to do everything. As time goes by, we end up exhausted and unable to find rest in the continuous cycle. So, how do we escape this cycle? We break the cycle through the reminder that we are human and God never meant for us to be anything more than that.
Dr. Kelly Kapic's "You Were Never Meant to Do It All" is a thought-provoking devotional that can pair well with "You're Only Human" as a daily reflection on remembering that we are human, or it can stand alone as a devotional. The devotional itself comes with 40 days of reflecting on our humanity, which helps us grow closer to God and have a better relationship with rest. So, if you are finding yourself constantly unable to rest, this devotional will give practical ways to slow down in the busyness of life.

[Eric Blick · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this format, Kelly has delivered bite-size meditations that deliver freedom to the perfectionist for never measuring up. He shows how to get life from God‘s material world. God loves what he made and is not finished restoring it beyond its original beauty. In our culture that prizes independence and worships self-made effort, this work landed on me greatly in counterintuitive and countercultural ways. Like the relational God made in his image, we are built for deep relationship with one another and community. In unpacking the goodness of the creation narrative I have found much joy and hope and freedom in recognizing limits, not as something to be ashamed of, but rather embrace as God made me dependent upon him and others and his creation. These daily devotionals are like some good now-and-laters rock-candy to keep us n your mouth all day getting new flavors. Very inspiring.

[Kayla McPeek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this quote: "God never sleeps. We usually take that for granted, but we should stop and think about it for a minute. Never. Ever. Sleeps. This gives profound comfort to vulnerable creatures who live in a hostile world" (p. 152). What a relief! That I can be a finite human who needs sleep and my fellow human beings because God is God, our God. The one who is near to us. How beautiful! Please read this book for more of this. It's even in bite-sized meals just so you don't have to do it all. Thanks Dr. Kapic for this book!

[Alayna Bradberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional is encouraging, uplifting, comforting, and convicting. It is a counter-cultural and gospel-soaked exhortation for believers to find rest in Christ, and I would recommend everyone read it, especially those struggling with busyness, burnout, and exhaustion.

[Aly Clement · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got to be a test reader for this book. It was such a blessing to me and I know will bless many others! It’s going to be released May 2025. This is worth preordering!

[Kelsey Foreman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this devo, although I don’t think I would appreciate it as much if I hadn’t read the associated book first so I’d recommend “You’re Only Human” before doing this 40-day devotional!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This devotional was literally written for me and @ me 😅