Everyone Needs to Rest

Okay, I’m just going to tell you how it is. This is my first week of school (There’s still one subject that I don’t start until next week, but for the most part this was my first week of school. I’m homeschooled, you know how it is.). And it started off terribly. Monday wasn’t too bad, but I still didn’t finish stuff for the day and I worked on it most of the day (though I guess that you can blame a lot of it on having to read all these introductions to things). But the next day was kind of horrible. I got a good start in the morning, but had two meltdowns because I couldn’t figure things out. I finally gave up at 10pm when I just couldn’t do it anymore. I guess it could just be because it’s the first few days of school. I’m not so sure though.

But I have learned a few things from these last few days. There seems to be two kinds of people. One kind beat themselves up over the smallest mistake (also known as me) and the other kind don’t have a single care in the world. Now there’s people who are in-between those extremes, but it’s not as common as it should be. As it needs to be.

You see? Discipline is great. Diligence is great. Working hard is really great. It really shows your dedication. It is part of the process of following God. He doesn’t want us to be lazy.

Romans 12:11

Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

2 John 1:8

Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.

But we also can’t overwork ourselves. We can’t work so hard that at some point, we flat out collapse. We can’t live like that. We’ll exhaust ourselves and then we can’t be what God would have us to be. And we’re called to do something great: spread the Gospel in a way that God had called us to do.

So we need to rest. As much as we’d like to think of how invincible we are and how we can handle a lot of work, we’re only human. We live in a fallen world. We are not God and we can’t accomplish everything. Resting is not the same as being lazy. Being lazy is idleness. Resting is refreshing oneself. By resting, you will be able to do more than if you had just kept going.

But you may say, “But the Bible says that with Christ the impossible is possible.” You’re right. He does say that. That is absolutely true. But why do you think that God created the world in six days and on the seventh day He rested? Do you really think that God needed rest? He is God of the universe. He is everywhere in every time (past, present, future). So do you really think that He needed rest?

No. He was setting an example for us to follow. He wanted us to set apart a day and keep it holy.

Exodus 20:11

For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

But He also showed us how much we need to rest. That we can’t work hard forever.

So don’t wear yourself. Remember to take rests. Be dedicated and work hard, but also remember that you’re not Superman. 😉  It is seriously okay to take a break, to rest, your body needs it. Rest, and enjoy it. Refresh yourself.

-G. Paige