Striking a balance between work and rest isn’t easy for most of us
The world tells us to “Hurry! Hurry!”—and most of us do just that. But at what cost? Are we agitated, unable to sleep, having stomach troubles, or feeling depressed? God says work is good, but so is rest. Our bodies are not meant to go throttle wide open from dawn to late at night. They need to strike a healthy balance to stay in tip-top shape.
Plan to Refuel the Body
Planning a vacation is one way to break the work cycle. It’s fun to play at the beach, visit a National Park, or cross the ocean to discover Italy’s charm. My picture albums and bank account bear witness that I’ve done all three. While it’s gratifying to get out of town for a few days, it’s not a realistic way to get regular, beneficial, weekly rest. In fact, so much adventure can get packed into those trips that we can come home needing a vacation from our vacation.
Why not follow God’s example and set aside one day each week to refuel?
By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. Genesis 2:2-3
Rest is health-giving. God created these bodies and knew they’d need quiet periods to refuel mentally, spiritually, and physically. For our own good we are urged to set aside one day out of seven, just as our Heavenly Father did, to unplug from work responsibilities and turn our thoughts to relaxing.
Purposely Lessen Stress
Dr. Catherine Hart Weber wrote, “Stress is a widespread concern, causing severely harmful effects on health and well-being. Many scientific studies have proven the benefits of prayer and meditation. They increase trust and offset the adverse health effects of stress.” [2]
It’s up to each one of us to strike a balance between work and rest. It’s important to respect ourselves enough to do so. Our souls thirst for nourishment and our minds require downtime to release tension and return to tranquil places. This will look different for each of us. It might mean basking in nature’s beauty, sitting beneath a tree, smelling the scent of wildflowers, walking with a trusted friend, hiking a local trail, fishing, or reading a good book. Whatever draws us nearer to God’s majesty, also supplies rest for our souls.
Appreciate a Day of Rest
Striking a balance between work and rest requires us to appreciate a day of Sabbath rest as a day meant for our good. In Mark 2:27 Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” This day is not meant as a rigid rule; one we’d fear breaking. Instead, this set-aside day is like putting gas in the car. It reenergizes us for the work week ahead.
By aligning our lives with the simplicity of God’s intent, we soon discover rest contributes to optimal health. We benefit. Our families benefit. Don’t worry if Saturday isn’t your day of rest. God won’t be angry with you. Choose one day a week that fits your work schedule. Then commit to follow God’s example and reap the stress-relieving results.
Spend some time thinking about what it is that refuels you after spending six days working. And don’t worry if you don’t “get it right” every time. God’s not mad at you for not keeping the Sabbath. It’s not for Him, it’s for you![1]
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[1] YouVersion, Understanding The Sabbath, Day one
[2] Catherine Hart Weber, PH. D, Stress and Burnout, Christian Counseling Today, Vol. 24. No. 2
