The Value of Rest

I’ve been struggling the last few months to write a post. Not because I have no content to write, I think there’s too much I want to share and I don’t know where to even begin. But rather than over complicate an amazing situation, I honed in on this repeating message: Rest.

God has been teaching me to value rest. Not just physical rest. Which, my husband knows, I do! I’m fairly rigid with my bed times because I know the value of having a good night’s rest. And I love an occasional nap! But also having a lot of regularly scheduled downtime. Away from my phone, tablet and tv. Just God, me, my thoughts and imagination.

One of the things I used to hate hearing my mom say to me was, “You need to slow down. You’re doing too much.” I was caught up in the, “This life is short and I need to accomplish as much as I can in every 24 hour 365 day a year life.” I often just ignored her. But one time I was just so annoyed. I had tore my ACL and was physically forced to slow down. And she repeated herself, “I think God’s trying to tell you to slow down.” And that was the last thing I wanted to hear as I was couch ridden for the summer.

I still didn’t learn my lesson that summer though. And I think because I’m actually listening to God now, He’s really repeating it to me on a regular basis because this isn’t something I historically have done well. I would go go go, crash, burn, meltdown and repeat. I had melt downs at least twice a year.

In the last two years God is continuously communicating with me what this means. I could go two ways with this, get super lazy or super busy. Finding balance and rhythm is challenging, and I’m in the middle of learning.

What does learning to rest look like to you? How do you navigate a balance or rhythm of working hard, making the most of every opportunity and resting? I can’t wait to hear your responses and join you in the comments.