WEEK TWO: REST FOR THE RESTLESS

Have you ever felt so drained and tired that you couldn’t seem to rest (even though you know that rest is what you needed the most)? As a culture, we have become so adept at filling up our schedules with things to do that we run our lives at a blistering pace. We rush to work, then to the next obligation, and then to the next and the next. Then if we have an open time slot by chance, we look for something to fill it up, or we become consumed in thinking about what is next on the agenda.

Multiple studies on busyness versus rest show that while many feel overworked, prioritizing rest is critical for preventing burnout, improving physical and mental health, and increasing productivity. Metrics on work hours, sleep quality, and the effects of overwork reveal a culture of "hustle" that often comes at a significant cost to well-being. However, those same studies show that with adequate rest, productivity improves, there are significantly less work errors made, there is a lower risk of injuries, and mental health is enhanced. On top of all of that, it has also shown that there is a 24% increase in overall happiness.

Rest is so important that God instructed his people to set aside a Sabbath, or a day of rest. This is a time to set aside the normal activities of work and to allow the entirety of ourselves to recover from the work and stress of everyday life. It is to find a place of peace and to allow the Lord to lead us to rest physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. This Sabbath is to be a time of restoration for our souls. That word “restore” means to bring back to life, to heal what’s been crushed, or to realign what’s been twisted.  This Sabbath is a time for us to stop our hurried lives and to be still before God. To listen and to hear God speaking to us. To allow God to restore what we have lost over the past week.

With so much to do and so many things that consume our time, a Sabbath rest can be difficult…but this rest in God is one of the most beneficial practices we can have as a follower of Jesus.