Relaxing Into Rest

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Although I ride a stationary bike several days a week in my home, I hadn’t seen the inside of a gym in more than a decade. Over time, my muscles have weakened. To make up for this, I recently started working with a personal trainer to develop a strength training routine.

One day, after the workout, I asked her how to stretch my chronically tense neck muscles. Together, we spent the next several minutes working through her demonstrated technique. As I focused on the slow stretch of my muscles and the inhale and exhale of my breath, I felt calmer, more at peace.

Although I could initially stretch a muscle to a certain point, it wasn’t until I waited long enough for it to fully relax that I could sink into a better stretch. Waiting for that release took time and patience.

Just like those neck muscles, I often find myself wound tight. Though I may appear relaxed—sitting on the couch, taking a break, or reading a book—my body is constantly on the verge of movement. I’m poised to spring into action, should my presence be required somewhere.

The Bible reminds us that rest is a gift from God, but it can be one we struggle to accept. We are often too busy with our tasks—or, as Scripture puts it, “eating the bread of anxious toil”—to slow down and appreciate the joy of proper rest. With to-do lists running through our brains and more activities than hours in the day, it’s no wonder that it’s hard to remind ourselves to slow down. It’s not until we truly pause and focus on the present—the space that our body is in, the breath going in and out of our lungs, the stillness of the space around us—that we can truly relax.

Yet, when we choose to slow down and sink into the moment, there is a sacredness to a true pause. Rather than simply putting up our feet for a minute, let’s be mindful to relax and rest in the promises of God.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Spend time stretching your muscles. Spend at least thirty seconds—or roughly four breaths in and out—on each stretch, allowing your body to relax.