It’s Okay To Take A Break

I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.

I’d been feeling overwhelmed for several days but ignoring my feelings and just pushing through. Until one morning I woke up very aware that my energy was low and the things I normally loved to do—exercising, running kids to activities, helping Kyle with our business, and tackling my to-do list—seemed more than I could handle. At the same time, even though my body felt tired, my mind began to berate me over all the things I “should” be doing.

I sighed and opened a social media site instead of starting on the list of things awaiting my attention. The first image that popped up was the face of a woman I follow. Immediately I knew her message was for me. She encouraged those who were watching to listen to their bodies, to rest when they feel like they need to. I wiped my eyes as she reminded us that we aren’t meant to run ourselves ragged, we aren’t machines, and some days it’s okay to take a break.

I closed my phone and whispered a prayer, thankful that God had used the words of someone else to speak to me, and the guilt I’d been feeling began to lift.

We can face a lot of pressure each day. Pressure to work hard. To get things done. To feel like we’ve accomplished something. And although there is nothing wrong with having goals, sometimes we can put too much emphasis on completing tasks, wearing down our bodies, minds, and spirits in the process and ignoring our need to rest.

That’s when we need to remember that God promises to satisfy weary souls and replenish languishing ones. My heart fills with gratitude as I read these words. God made us as living beings, not machines. Knowing we’d need rest, he offers it freely. God doesn’t expect us to run ourselves ragged, and neither should we. Rest is a gift from God. All we have to do is receive it.

Kendra

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Take time to rest, thanking God for the opportunity to replenish body, mind, and spirit.