It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to His loved ones.
PSALM 127:2 NLT
I watched the cursor blink in the same spot, telling me I was wasting my time. Stubbornly forcing myself to sit at my desk hadn’t helped move the work along. Through the window, I heard the kids call me again to watch them do cartwheels on the front lawn. I wanted to relish the last days of summer with them, but I was being pulled by the stern demands of deadlines.
I clicked through the many open tabs on my computer to find something that would require minimal thinking, but every task and project were at the point where they needed my focused attention. I closed my eyes, closed the laptop, took some deep breaths, and surrendered.
I leaned back in my chair, resigned and frustrated at my inability to push through. But then I sensed a different pull in my heart—an urgent invitation to rest.
Up until now, rest seemed like a luxury I couldn’t afford. I’d started to believe that the mark of a generous, loving person was to give until I had nothing left. It was an unhealthy belief that I had grown up with—that being like Jesus meant martyring ourselves at the altar of service to others.
But we aren’t robots created for incessant work, nor are we the saviors of the world. Rest is essential. We must rest so we can keep going. We must rest because we have limits and because we can trust God with all that needs to get done.
The lie that I was only as valuable as what I produced enticed me to open my laptop again and keep pushing through, but I decided to heed the warning to rest. I walked outside into the sun’s embrace and watched with delight as my kids showed off their cartwheel moves. I sat on the front step and felt my body exhale.
We aren’t meant to carry the world on our own shoulders. God’s inviting you to rest. Surrender, exhale, and let Him love you.
Here in South Carolina this is the second weekend in a row that weather is “interfering” with activities. Last weekend it was heavy rain, cold temps & icy roads. Today we’re predicted to get 6 inches of snow. We are not equipped to have roads cleared so snow is a huge Stop sign to usual activities. God is using weather to provide us with rest! May we increase in obedience in observing the Sabbath rest with or without weather events ;~) Blessings (((0)))
I live in Maine. I am 72 and live alone. Maine has been getting snow since before Christmas. Big storms. I’m exhausted, physically. My dear friend once said that snow was God’s message to us telling us to slow down and be quiet. So after the storm passes and all the cleanup is done, I put on my snowshoes and relish in the quiet outdoors. I have always been a doer. But have finally learned it’s ok to rest, to sit and read, to watch a movie even as the to do list stares at me. It isn’t always easy but I am getting more comfortable with it. I used to think people who napped in the afternoon were ridiculous. Maybe they were on to something.
I am in Maine, too!! Prayers for you from a fellow Mainer!
Thank You Grace!
Dear Grace……What a lovely name you have. Your devotion today struck me right in the heart. I had always pushed myself to finish everything, every day as I thought as you did that it was the way we showed Jesus our deep faith and are working the way He would like us to do. I am 78 years old now and worked for 45 years until I just could not do it anymore. It was a long drive to and from where I worked and many days I was there for 10 hours as a manager, it was expected.Then I bought the book “10 Days of Strength in any Struggle” and this was about 2 years ago. I loved the stories and to journal then. Writing things down really helps me and I am now going through it the second time and am on day 95. It is amazing what I journal this time compared to the first time. I have grown and that is where I discovered that God invites us to rest. I cried tears of joy. We don’t have to carry everything on our shoulders and God supports that, so I began to take that day of rest when I was so weary I just couldn’t do any more. Today is just one of those “Rest” days for me. For the past 2 weeks we have been battling 18 inches of snow and bone-chilling cold. It was minus 3 today when I got up. Nobody at this place is allowed to help others and I have knee problems and I went out Monday just to try and start my car. Getting out of the car, there was ice underneath the snow and down I went, very hard. No one was around and I could not get up. I laid out there in 13 degree cold for 15 minutes, still nobody around so I knew some how I had to do it myself. I walk with a cane due to knee problems, but there was so much ice, my cane kept slipping. There was only 1 choice left, even though my knees are bad, I knew I would have to crawl to the front door of this awful facility where I live. By the time I got to the front door, my coat and pants were soaked making me even colder, but finally I made it. All the managers (so to speak ) were in there offices with the door closed. No entrance. So, I picked today as my day of Rest. I am still hurting really bad, but my dust and clutter will still be there tomorrow. Thank you so much Grace for your story and I do believe I read it in that wonderful book from (in)courage. I urge everyone to read your story and really think if this describes you. Grace and every one who reads and comments our (in)courage wise words, please be so very careful as ice hides underneath snow and unfortunately this weekend the South is getting clobbered with snow and horrible, dangerous winds. I will pray for all of you that you stay safe and Grace, I love you for reminding me I do not have to feel guilty if I don’t do anything but rest today and maybe tomorrow……………..Betsy Basile
This is such a beautiful, needed invitation. I can’t hear it enough—rest is urgent because God knows our limits. Thank you for permission.
Great advice, I’m learning this in my late 60s. I’m learning the hard way. I want to be obedient to Gods call to rest! This articule popped up on my phone while doing my devotions and trying to listen for Gods Guidence. Thank you for writing this artical!