Last week, my beautiful and inspiring seventeen-year-old niece (whom I gained after I married her incredible, godly uncle) asked me this question: How do you rest? In my answer, I listed things that I have done in the past when I rested such as reading, watching TV, and sleeping, but as I answered what I have done in the past, I could not ignore that in this very new and fresh book in my life, I have had a hard time figuring out how to truly rest. Little did I know that the next morning, I was going to be under the weather with sickness. I do not think it is coincidental that the timing of being sick happened after the conversation with my niece. In fact, the last several days are the inspiration for this post and I pray it is an opportunity for you, reader, to look at your own life, your own schedule and ask yourself the question: How do you rest?
Back in April, I talked about “Intentional Rest,” and the Scripture of focus was found in Exodus 23:12 where the Lord commands His people to work six days and rest on the seventh day. For this post let us go all the way back to the beginning in Genesis 2:1-3, which says,
“Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
Notice how in these verses we learn that before the Lord commands His people to rest in Exodus, God illustrates, by using Himself, how to rest. How do we rest? Well, for one, we can do so by prioritizing rest. Below are a few ways we can prioritize rest:
- SCHEDULE REST. Because the calendar fills up with work and social activities, it may be wise for you to also schedule your rest day by putting it on your calendar.
- LEAVE WORK AT WORK. This may be trickier for those who, for instance, work at home, have a telecommuting job, or are a boss, because work can sometimes come up outside of work hours. Even so, it is necessary for you to prioritize resting, too. The Creator finished His work and took time to rest away from His work. How can you equip your team, if you are a boss, to handle things without needing to contact you when you are resting? If you work from home, are there ways you can put up a boundary during certain hours in the evenings or a day where no one from work can contact you while resting? Ask the Lord to reveal to you where you can make changes. He will show you.
And,
- SEEK THE LORD AND DISVOVER WHAT REST LOOKS LIKE FOR YOU. For some rest means time alone. For others rest means time with family or friends. For some it means being at home. For others it means going outside. Ask the Holy Spirit and reflect on what activities (or lack thereof) reenergizes you.
This list is only a few ways we can prioritize rest. I do pray that this can be a launching pad for all of us as we reflect on how to rest and I pray it leads us to take steps towards having true rest, for true rest can only truly come when it is rooted in the Lord.
All Bible verses are from Holy Bible: English Standard Version