Everyone needs to rest on the regular, and not just the kind of rest that comes when you sleep each night. It’s such an essential part of existence that even God rested on the seventh day after completing the process of creation. We’re no better than He is, which is why we must rest.
I recently took a rest from posting on here, thanks in part to other things going on in my life which needed additional attention and energy from me. Doing that I feel has left me refreshed and rejuvenated, ready to dive back in and hopefully push things to the next level.
That’s one of the many benefits of true rest. One gains perspective, saves up energy, and is able to prioritize different tasks. We only have so much to give, so we must be wise with how we distribute our abilities.
I’m fully aware that some people have made “rest” their main or even sole aim in life. That’s not real rest, because such an activity only comes after someone labors hard, from which they can then rest. What these people do is a practice called “being lazy” but they wrap the cloak of rest around it to make it sound and look noble.
Obviously, what I’m talking about isn’t laziness, although some might view it as such. Far too many have the erroneous belief that if they’re always spinning their wheels, they’re doing something good. Work not only is a commandment from God, it’s purifying and necessary. People I’ve known who don’t really work, either in the traditional sense or some other way, reap the consequences, and it’s not pretty.
One of my favorite ways to rest is to get out into nature hiking, paddle boarding, camping, kayaking, off-roading, etc. I find mountains and beaches to recharge my batteries the most. There is something sacred about appreciating the beauty outside of cities.
Of course, I also take one day a week as my rest. Each Sunday I take a break from my usual activities and focus more on the spiritual, including spending time with family. The perspective gained by that is priceless.
Image copyright Steven Symes
Steven Symes 