Inspire

With the first term of the school year coming to a close this week, we reflect on ‘rest’ and what it might mean for all of us. The holidays, for me, are often busy with kids sports, play dates and finding fun activities for them to do. I encourage you to have some rest in the holidays and to be mindful of what fills your cup.

If you have ever had a packed schedule, a full day or an excessive load of responsibilities, you probably know how easy it is to become tired. When we face burnout, we need to remember to rest, not only physically but also spiritually.

However, we cannot find this rest through our own power. Rather, we must find rest in God and the hope and peace He has to offer.

Don’t Be Afraid to Take a Break

“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” – Genesis 2:2-3, NIV

Some people don’t seem to see taking a break as an option. Whether because of limited time, guilt over not doing anything or conflicting priorities, it can seem that taking a break is a misuse of time and an inappropriate choice. However, this is merely a lie we tell ourselves.

Taking breaks is important. Let’s look at some examples of Bible verses about rest. As early as Genesis 2, intentional rest is seen in the Bible. On the seventh day, God himself rested from creating the world. In Exodus, one of the Ten Commandments instructs us to remember the Sabbath, a day for the Lord after six days of work.

Fast-forward to the New Testament and we can see that even Jesus took the time to rest. In Mark 4, Jesus sleeps on a boat despite the tumultuous storm raging around him.

It is okay to take a break and rest in God’s presence. The Bible warns us not to become lazy, but it also encourages finding rest for your soul in Jesus Christ.

Adapted from – Rest in God by Molly Howard. 

Submitted by Katie Jeffery