“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalms 23:1 NLT
Rest matters. If you are not carving out time to take care of yourself, it is time to start. And I mean NOW! If you are like me, you wear multiple hats. Whether you are a mom, dad, pastor, CEO, or grocery store clerk, or all of the above, you function in more than one way. You serve others in a variety of ways, whether you recognize it or not. Every task you have on your never-ending to-do list serves someone. It could be your family, your company, or your church, but other people are reaping the benefits of your actions.
If you don’t take care of yourself, you have nothing to give anyone else. You will run out of energy and concentration. What are you doing to rest and replenish?
God initiated the Sabbath for His people after 400 years of slavery, working every day with no rest. He told the prophet Elijah, the disciples, and others in the Bible to come apart and rest. Why would He expect anything else for you and me?
So, why is rest important for fulfilling God’s purposes for you?
Rest results from following His guidance. When you and I are so busy trying to come up with a plan, we expend a ton of energy and, whether we recognize it or not, we operate with a measure of anxiety. Consciously or unconsciously, being unsure of what is next prevents us from truly resting and relaxing.
If you are a responsible person, and I know you are, you don’t want to be unproductive. You want to feel like you are making a difference. So, your brain is almost always busy because you feel responsible for outcomes. You feel like you have to figure everything out. But you don’t.
Because the Lord is your shepherd, He is prepared to guide you. He wants to guide you. He wants to take care of you. He’s got the plan and you don’t need to figure it out. That is rest. Knowing that He’s got the plan leads you to internal rest.
Rest leads to restoration. Restoration only happens in the place of rest. To be restored is to be brought back, returned to a place or condition. A woodworker cannot restore a table that is prepared for a family dinner. The dishes, food, and other items must be removed, and the family must dine somewhere else. Then the craftsman may begin his work.
While our house was being renovated, we lived with my sister for five months. Was that a place of rest? Maybe not so much for us, but it was for the house! The house had not been cared for and could not be a place of rest for us until its restoration was complete. Staying in the house would have prevented the contractor from doing the work. We had to remove ourselves so that restoration could happen.
We envisioned some simple, quick cleanups that would allow us to move in after a relatively short period of time. Our contractor envisioned a house that was completely new on the inside. It was inconvenient. It took longer than we wanted, but it was completely worth it. Because we “rested” from living in the house and the house “rested” from having people live in it, we have a beautiful home that provides us with a place of rest.
Where do you need to be restored? If you are busy doing, there is no room for restoration.
Rest leads to replenishment. When you rest, you are refilled. You end up with more to give. And if you make this a regular practice, you will have more than enough. Restoration leads to overflow. Overflow is what we give to others. When we have all we need and more, we have enough to share with the people we interact with.
If I don’t rest, I get grumpy and emotional. What about you? When I do rest, I become filled with peace, and that is what overflows to the people around me. I know peace is not my natural state. I may seem pretty even on the outside, but inside my mind is always busy. Learning to slow down and let my mind and spirit rest is what leads to an overflow of peace. I am still working on this. Believe me!
So, my friend, are you ready to stop trying to figure it all out and let Him lead you to rest? Do you long for the restoration that only happens in a time of rest? Do you need more? When you rest, you allow restoration to happen, and that leads to more progress on reaching your goals. You’ll also be able to better serve the people around you and knock out more of those to-do items. Isn’t that work planning some rest?
Key Question: Why is rest an important part of fulfilling God’s purpose for you?
A Scripture to Consider: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalms 23:1 NLT
A YES Challenge: Honestly evaluate your self-care practices. Decide when and how you will rest and replenish yourself. Make that evaluation a weekly practice as you review your schedule.
Prayer: Father, I want to serve You, my family, and other people well. It’s easy for me to get focused on doing for others and forget that taking care of myself is not selfish. When I refresh and replenish myself, I can serve those around me from a full tank rather than an empty one. Show me how to do this intentionally. When I serve from a place of rest I honor You and that is my highest goal. Amen.