Rest Rejuvenates Our Courage - Live like a Guide Dog

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10, NIV)

“Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:3-7, NIV)

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)

Humans—and dogs—need to disconnect and unwind. Downtime is as important as sleep in order to function well. No one has to teach puppies to play—they do it naturally. But sometimes, anxiety can take over.

Our culture lauds workaholic types. They’re admired for their focus, rewarded for their drive. But I wonder if people who can never unplug might actually be motivated by fear. Maybe deep down, they fear failure, or that they won’t have enough resources. Maybe they feel hyper-responsible for the people around them, always needing to keep their guard up.

When you are willing to disconnect and to slow down, you are given an opportunity to examine your own motives, to think about what you’re doing and why you are doing it. Taking a break forces you to trust that everything will be okay, even if you aren’t working or micromanaging things. In a way, rest affirms your trust in God.

Guide dogs know that when the harness comes off, it’s playtime. They seem to intuitively know that taking time to play and relax allows them to perform better and more bravely when the harness is on. Rest rejuvenates courage.

Prayer:

God, I sometimes struggle to take a break and relax, and it makes me anxious. Help me to take a break, to play or rest today.