TAKE A BREAK, TAKE A BREATH
Carey Madding
Today's Scripture: “And he lay down and slept under a broom tree.” 1 Kings 19:5a, ESV
Theme: To ride the rollercoaster of life well and for the long haul, get good rest, take a sabbath, and sleep.
RUNNING AWAY TO REST
When Elijah “ran for his life,” he ran quite a way. He sat down under the bush and had a frank discussion with God, then he lay down and rested. Maybe the exercise wore his body out enough to give his mind peace. Maybe the running gave him a sense of distance and security so that he could rest without fear. God was there, also, and sent and angel with food to refresh him, but then immediately, “he ate and drank and lay down again” (1 Kings 19:6b, ESV).
A spa getaway or a Saturday sleep-in is not enough. When we are beyond exhausted, it takes a while to recover. It’s much better not to get in that situation of deficit at all! But when we do, give yourself time and permission to rest and recover.
BALANCE
Rest is a necessary part of a healthy, balanced life. Sometimes, we neglect sleep and rest. We have no margins in our calendars for interruptions or emergencies. We misuse the Sabbath as a day to play hard or catch up on last week’s office or housework. We prioritize business acquaintances over believing friends who would really feed and refresh our souls.
At other times, we overdo the “rest” -- but it is not restful. We have anxiety, so we can’t sleep, then we stay up late watching mindless shows. The next morning, we may oversleep because we are so tired. Maybe we cannot face the world, so we remain cocooned in our beds, but that is also an unhealthy excess. We need a balance of exercise, community, food, and rest! And we need time with the God who loves us.
CREATING MARGIN
As a staff leader, we were challenged to create space for rest, for dreaming, and for envisioning the future God has for us. We need space in our calendars to listen to God, to hear His dreams and plans for us. We need days off each week, faithfully putting aside work and focusing on our families and our God. We need a regular Sabbath, where we spend time in community and in worship, recommitting the totality of our lives to God. If we don’t have this respite, we will not survive in our marriages, careers, ministries, or our callings for the long haul.
Make It Personal: In what area of your life are you continually stressed and pressed? Can you do something about it? Build intentional time out for God. Make family a priority. Set aside a day to worship God with others, even if you have a weekend job! Go to bed early and rest.
Pray: Father, I sometimes find myself at the end of my rope. Help me to find margin, to prioritize rest and time with You. Help me to cast my cares on You and remember that You love me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, amen.
Read: Matthew 11:28-30, Psalms 4:8, Hebrews 4:9-11, Psalms 127:2, Mark 6:31, Exodus 33:14
Weekly Memory Verse: “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9, ESV