Rest Extended

[Written Monday, October 24th]

Have you ever had a day where you didn’t even get out of your pajamas?! Well, that was me yesterday—and I loved it!! [More on that in a bit.]. If you’ve been around me much, or have read previous articles, I might sound like a broken record, but I am pretty passionate about this rest thing…especially after yesterday’s (much needed) rest. So, when considering writing today, I tried to avoid it but gave up and came back to this subject that is still on my heart.

I have always been one to really love to do ‘stuff.’ I have always enjoyed being involved…sometimes to the point of over-ambition and choosing yes when perhaps I should have said no.

I remember when I went back to college, I still wanted to be involved in ministry at church. I received a very clear message that when Saul was converted and became Paul, he took time out to be educated before fully engaging in Christian ministry. I am not saying that everyone needs to go to college by any means. My point is that God helped me to see that while I was in college (still a mom with kids at home), it was OK to not take on those ministry roles. Did I listen to that wisdom? No. I put extra things on myself to do that were unnecessary for me at that time in my life. Did I regret it? To make a long story short, the answer is, yes.

Another time, after a period of stress with my career choice, I decided to make a change. I remember feeling like it was ok to take a siesta…an extended rest from some extra pressures and activities. Let me be clear…I never took a break from serving God or from church attendance. I simply allowed myself (with God’s blessing) a period of extended break.

This summer was the peak of some very stressful times in my family. Without going into great detail, we lost my dad in January of 2021; and little over a year and a half later, we lost Mom. The stress had been building on and off over a period of about five years with the climax being this summer. Having said that, I want to emphasize just how thankful I am for how God was with us during these difficult times. He helped us and has brought peace when times had been very tough.

I said all of that to say this…sometimes extra rest is needed. I recognized the effects the stress (some from work included) was having on my body. Although, I have come down from that intense stress, I still felt that I needed to heal in some aspects.

Yesterday, I embraced God-given rest like I am not sure that I ever have before. Yes, this time I did stay home from church. I had a headache and some sinus issues Sunday morning…that is what first prompted my day of leisure. I did not get out of my pajamas. I did not even comb my hair! I drank coffee while I watched a sermon online where my former pastor mentioned the importance of balanced REST!! I watched movies. I prayed. I grieved. I ate. I napped. I went to bed early. I have zero regrets!

In God’s Word, He not only gave the commandment of rest, but He rested. As the pastor mentioned yesterday, “six and one.”

“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/exo.20.9-11.ESV

My normal Sunday rest would consist of a nap in the afternoon after church and lunch (Sunday dinner)…then lounging until time for our couples’ small group. Yesterday’s rest was an unusual rest—an unusually good rest! I am not promoting skipping church because I am a strong advocate for assembling together for worship and fellowshipping! Iron sharpens iron, you know. I am, however, just as strong of an advocate for rest…one day…Every. Single. Week.

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭27:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.27.17.NLT

“not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.10.25.ESV

Earlier in the spring, I decided that it would be ok to work on Sunday with my family on a garage project that we were trying to finish up. What I found was that, stemming from that day, I began to let other things tiptoe in on my Sunday rest for several weeks. Maybe some of those were necessary. I don’t really recall; but I do recall feeling very aware of the pattern that was forming. I knew it needed to stop if at all possible. And you know, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke‬ ‭1:37‬ ‭KJV‬‬) Thankfully, I have gotten back into my rest routine…with a bonus yesterday! [He is so good.]

Never forget, this gift is extended to you, too…this gift so precious that words cannot justly describe.

I often think of the week long rests that the Israelites took [were given]. I haven’t had one of those in a while, but I look forward in hopes of celebrating one of those…hopefully in the not too distant future!

~Minister. ~Be ministered to. ~Rest. ~Repeat.

***Edited Saturday, November 5th // Little did I know when I wrote this that, that week of rest I mentioned above would happen that very week. I hope to elaborate on that very soon! Stay tuned, but for now just know that I am still celebrating—and benefitting from—that week in my heart today!!