A Forced Rest

It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.

I’d been looking forward to our spring break trip for months. We were headed to Red Lodge, Montana, so Aaron and the kids could ski a mountain after having practiced on the small hills of Minnesota. And while they enjoyed the snow for a few days, I had big plans for prepping classroom materials, writing, and working on other tasks requiring uninterrupted hours of deep thought. We’d reunite around 4:00 p.m. for dinner and games, and everything would be perfect.

My first inkling that something wasn’t quite as it should be with me was the evening we arrived in town. By morning the inevitable was impossible to ignore: a head cold of epic proportions. I spent the better part of the next three days in bed, feeling miserably congested and fatigued, and having completely given up my grand designs for accomplishing anything except healing.

My body is remarkable in the sense that it can push through busy seasons and looming deadlines like a champ while seemingly having a sixth sense for the precise moment in which it can simply let go. After too long a stretch of pushing, pushing, pushing, it collapses in on itself—regardless of my good intentions and best-laid plans. And instead of feeling frustrated over spoiled expectations—although there was some of that as well—I was grateful for my earthly body and all it does for me, even imperfectly.

I’m learning—once again—to watch for smaller signals that I’m pushing too hard. I’m trying to treat myself a bit more gently and accepting that sometimes what my mind, body, and soul need most are sleep and rest. There is no shame in taking a break; today’s verse tells us that God gives rest to those he loves. Isn’t that a marvelous reminder in a culture that demands a frenzied pace?

Julie

Today’s Act of Gratitude

In what area(s) do you need to practice rest? Set aside time for your favorite pampering activity, thanking God for your body and for all the things it enables you to do, even imperfectly.