Rest – a Blessing from God

I was recently reflecting on the gift of rest. It sometimes seems like our society is driven by an obsession with productivity. When you meet someone for the first time, how often do you ask them ‘What do you do for a living?’ or in the case of a retired person, ‘What did you do in your working life?’ For many people, their whole sense of identity is built upon the work that they do, or by extension, how much money they earn, or the hours that they work each week.

On the one hand, there’s nothing wrong with this. Work is important. It’s how we make ends meet; it’s how we contribute to society; it’s how we pass our time. Moreover, humans are made to work. Many people who are no longer able to work due to bad health or unemployment will often experience a crisis of identity as they adjust to their new circumstances. What we do, or what we can do, is often a significant part of who we are.

But rest is important, too. As the old saying goes, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy!’ People are increasingly talking about work-life balance. This has become a critical issue: mobile phones and email have made workers in many industries accessible 24/7, and this is increasing stress exponentially because they simply can’t get a break from work even at home after hours.

There are also many studies that have shed light on the importance of rest. Rest is good for our minds. When we’re properly rested, we think better, we regulate our emotions better, we exercise better self-control. Rest is good for our bodies. It’s when our body works behind the scenes repairing damaged cells and getting things back in order. So, rest is not only necessary; it’s essential. And what happens when we don’t take the time to rest? We get sick more easily. We’re less happy. We make more mistakes. Our relationships suffer because we’re more likely to speak harshly to one another. The list goes on.

God knows the value of proper rest. Right at the beginning of the Bible, in Genesis 1, we can read how, when God creates the earth and puts everything in order, he set the pattern for the working week with times for work and times for rest. He does this by taking a day of rest for himself. It’s fair to say, he doesn’t do this for his own benefit. Rather, he does it to bless our rest, and give us the permission to rest, too. When we read in the gospels about Jesus’ ministry, we can see countless examples of Jesus also resting, retreating, and praying. In fact, Jesus’ gives us an example of spiritual rest; the rest that comes from hearing God’s word and praying.

So work is important; but so is rest. God blesses work; God blesses rest also. There’s no need to feel guilty when you take a well-earned break. It’s good for you. Your whole self – body, mind and spirit – will thank you. Above all, know that when you rest, God is with you!