We all live crazy and busy lives that we can get stressed, overwhelmed, and exhausted easily. We can pile too much on our plates, then feel obligated to take care of others while somehow maintaining our responsibilities. Whether it be family, friends or people at work, we somehow find ourselves in situations that mentally, physically and/or emotionally wear us down.
Lately, I’ve been juggling so many things, I’ve been drowning in a sea of never-ending obligations. I am spent. However, there are still things required of me that have to get done, and I have to keep chugging along, though it seems like there’s never an end and I can’t catch a break. – Do you ever feel like this?
In these moments, we have to remember that we were never meant to live our lives jam-packed without peace and rest.
In Genesis 2:2, the Bible says “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”
God is an eternal being. He doesn’t need a day of “rest” to rejuvenate. However, he rested from his work because he wanted this day to be holy and he wanted to stress the importance of rest after a hard work week. He wants us to be recharged by him by taking a day to rest from our obligations, responsibilities, stresses, worries and our circus-like lives to focus on him.
We need rest. Rest isn’t even just sleeping. Rest is true freedom from worry, stress, work and anxiety in all forms – emotionally, physically and mentally.
When others drain us emotionally, when we are worked too hard physically, or we have been thinking a lot trying to figure things out and are mentally beat, God calls us to replicate him and his actions from the beginning of creation. It’s absolutely impossible for us to go, go, go, and go without a break and maintain a healthy mind, soul, body and spirit.
I challenge you to take a day that you aren’t working, or don’t have any other major responsibilities, and instead of planning to clean the house, go to the grocery store, or do another thing to check off a responsibility from your to-do list, spend the day resting in God’s word and presence. Play some soft music or worship music, journal, read the bible, and even meet up with a friend for coffee and fellowship. These are things that will help our focus get off of the things that distract us from God and put our focus back on him.
I promise you that if you do these things, that you will feel so much more ready to take on the week with patience, endurance, and a positive attitude, because God was the source of your rest.
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28
We are all stretched thin and carry around some burdens that we need God to take. We all feel as though we are barely holding things together, especially when we have people relying on us. Jesus says to come to him, and you will find rest.
Sincerely, Rochelle
Sincerely, Rochelle 