Christian Devotions published a devotional I wrote entitled Take Time to Rest. For those of you who don’t know, Christian Devotions is a great website for daily devotional messages.
Take Time to Rest
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Genesis 2:2 NIV
During my training for a one-hundred-mile ultramarathon, I learned the value of rest.
Previously, when I prepared for marathons or triathlons, I worked out six to seven days a week and ran myself into the ground.
I hired a coach for the one-hundred-miler. He didn’t want me working out more than five days a week. He said that if I didn’t get enough rest, my muscles wouldn’t complete the planned workouts. I admit, I panicked.
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. This verse highlights the importance of rest. Even God rested on the seventh day, so why do I think I can run full throttle for seven days a week? I can’t, and God is teaching me the importance of personal restoration.
Other than the seventh day, when else should we make it a point to rest? Here are a few areas when added rejuvenation is needed.
1. After a big effort
This was the big one for me in 2018. After tackling workout after workout while training for a one-hundred-mile ultramarathon and completing the race, I didn’t feel like pushing through anything (not even grocery shopping). I took a break from running and any exercise which forced me to “dig deep.” I pursued some other goals, but relaxed dramatically on my exercise goals.
2. Stress in other areas of life
Sometimes, we have to cool our jets in one area of life to make room for added stress in another. Work life can affect our physical activity, training can take time away from spiritual pursuits, and sickness can limit our professional time. Focusing on one area of life when it demands the extra attention for the short term is okay. Long-term imbalance, however, can cause wear and tear beyond repair.
3. Attending to the needs of family and friends
Sickness or interpersonal problems of those we love can also require rest as we tend to their needs. Shelving a project or goal temporarily to assist a friend or family member allows us to do what needs to be done. We can always come back to our goals once the situation is resolved.
Building rest into our schedule is important. Rest provides necessary healing and generates new ideas and new perspectives. When we take time to rest, we allow momentum to build as the healing process completes.
Check your schedule to see if it includes rest.
Love, K.
Author of Ten Iron Principles, Contributor in The Power to Make a Difference
Wonderful insights Ms. Kelly. Often, when I am consulting for a major client pursuing a contract worth hundreds of millions of dollars, I can put in some pretty long hours. Am just coming off a month of 80+ hour weeks (I know you can appreciate with your medical training). I too am looking forward to a rest, but most of all I’m looking forward to resting in Him. I find that during this “work marathons”, I spend less and less time with Him each day as the deadline looms and the pressure builds. It’s as though I am drawing on spiritual reserves during those times. I have to “return to the well” and refill my cup before I’ve go the spiritual strength to tackle the next one. Thank you for this great reminder about the importance of rest. Hope I get to see you at BRMCWC in May. God’s blessings ma’am.
I, too, draw on the spiritual reserves. Though, it’s interesting that in the busiest times (the times we most need Him) we tend to make less time for our relationship with God.
I, too, draw spiritual reserves. Though it’s interesting that in the busiest times (the times we most need God) that we give less time to our relationship with Him.
Rest does promote healing for our physical bodies but also for our minds, as well. Mental rest is just as important and you gave us some good points for remembering to take that restful time.
This is a lesson I have learned over and over again…and continue to learn!
Rest is an oft-overlooked blessing the Lord provides. Thank you for highlighting its importance. Great post!
God just keeps putting this in front of me. Do you think He’s trying to tell me something? The word God gave me for this year is quiet–and I know it’s closely connected to rest. I had to confess to my small group that I’m not doing well in the Quiet and resting arena last week. It’s as if I don’t know how to shut down the noise in my mind. Thank you for your post. It is an encouraging reminder to keep moving forward with God, knowing He will teach me.
Sometimes in my quiet time, I just sit. I sit and remain quiet. It’s amazing the guidance that can come when we simply stop.
I love the idea of scheduling in rest … I certainly don’t manage to do it otherwise! Thanks for the reminder, Kelly