From the beginning, the story of creation models for us a time when we rest from our labor. I don’t know about you, but I’m not very good at it. If there is work to be done, I keep going. It’s easy for me to let my labor blur into the evenings and weekends. All work and no rest is not good for the soul, mind or body.
We need rest to reconnect with God. We need rest for our brains to restore itself. We need rest for our body’s to function properly. God designed us to need rest, so why do I fight it so?
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creatingthat he had done. (Genesis 2:1-4 NIV)
My favorite way to rest from my labor is hiking or simply being outside. We plan hiking into almost all of our vacations. We hiked to three different waterfalls on our most recent adventure. Being in nature calms my spirit, rejuvenates my mind, and allows my body to be challenged which it needs regularly.
It doesn’t take a formal vacation for rest. There are parks all around and even a walk around the neighborhood restores. It’s about making time for rest a priority. It’s about having something to look forward to. It’s about resting in God’s presence.
Ascending mountains and exploring waterfalls in national parks isn’t for everyone. But, there is something for everyone. It’s about making it a priority. It’s understanding that we bring our best to our labor when we are rested and connected to the vine.
How do you rest from your labor? What restores your soul? What leaves you refreshed and ready for what’s next? Share your experience here and breathe life and bring hope to others.