The Exit Plan

The Exit Plan: Where Strength Meets Surrender

By Emma Martin

There’s a moment—a tipping point—we all come to. It’s that invisible doorway where our emotions run high, our thoughts feel like chaos, and all we want is relief. We start looking for an exit. But what if the exit isn’t just about escape, but about exposure?

You see, the exit is often where we find the truth: we’ve been hustling hard—physically, mentally, emotionally—without inviting God into the pain, the process, or the plan.

In my coaching sessions, one of the first questions I ask clients is, “What’s your escape plan?”

It’s a direct and often deeply personal question, but it opens the door to something incredibly important: vulnerability. We all have ways we cope with pain—some healthy, some hidden—and when we create a space where people feel safe, seen, and secure, they begin to open up. That’s where healing begins.

Because the goal isn’t to shame the escape plan—it’s to understand it.

We never want people to feel like they can’t be honest about where they go when life becomes too much. Whether it’s isolation, perfectionism, numbing, or achievement, our escape routes reveal the places we’re most in need of God’s presence and healing.

We call it “pushing through,” “staying strong,” or “doing the work.” We flex our mental muscle, trying to find the strength to keep going. But underneath it all, we’re exhausted. Because what we really need isn’t just mental strength—it’s supernatural strength.

This is where Christ steps in.

He doesn’t just patch us up—He uproots the pain.

He doesn’t just offer coping mechanisms—He offers complete transformation.

The culture tells us: “You’ve got this. You’re enough. You’re in control.” But we weren’t made to carry it all. That kind of thinking traps us on a hamster wheel—always chasing peace, but never reaching it.

Yes, there’s value in self-awareness, in mental regulation, in building resilience. But without the Holy Spirit, we’re only accessing a portion of the power available to us. As believers, we rest in the Spirit of Truth—the place where we invite Christ to dwell richly in us.“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom…” (Colossians 3:16).

It’s from this dwelling place—not our effort, but His presence—that we gain wisdom, endurance, and peace.

The truth?

We weren’t made just to survive—we were made to live fully alive. And full life only comes when we relinquish our control, surrender our hustle, and invite God into the spaces we’ve tried so hard to manage on our own.

So, maybe the “exit” isn’t failure.

Maybe it’s the place where we finally find freedom.