While there’s much to do, it’s easy to become overextended and neglect the needed rest for our body and soul. And, occasionally, when we continue to push ourselves beyond what’s helpful, God makes us to lie down and rest.
Little kids are prone to get overtired and fussy. And often they must be made to take a nap or go to bed for their own good. They need rest and don’t always know how to put themselves down.
And, as adults, we’re not always much better.
We push ourselves to the point of exhaustion. And this lack of rest is often the culprit for much of our unnecessary stress, irritability, and quick tempers.
And, unfortunately, it often takes getting sick, losing a job, or some other traumatic event to finally get us to slow down and rest.
The discipline of rest is something we all could probably practice more.
But it’s helpful to also consider the ways God is inviting us to rest.
Perhaps closed doors, failed opportunities, and frustrated plans are his way to get us to rest – to block our path from overextending ourselves more and more.
Prayer and discernment is needed here to interpret correctly.
Certainly, there are times to push through resistance – the thorns and thistles of life – to accomplish the tasks God has given us.
And at other times our pushing is resisting the very good God has for us.
We’re likely resisting needed rest when we grow increasingly exhausted and tapped out.
To be sure, hard work is needed and tiring. There’s much to do and work on every hand.
But life with God also includes times of rest, peace, and the renewal of our strength.
Work hard. And don’t resist the rest God has for you. Follow his lead and let him restore your body and soul.
Photo by Wolfgang Hasselmann on Unsplash
