Resting can be one of the most profitable of spiritual exercises. At times all of the Scripture reading and prayer in the world will not advance us an inch in our walk with God if we are too exhausted to understand, receive, and respond to what we are reading and hearing. There are certainly times when we must forego sleep to have adequate time to spend with our Lord. But there are other occasions when, out of our physical and emotional exhaustion, we must put all other leadership activities on hold and obtain much needed rest.
God designed people to require rest (Exodus 20:8-11). We cannot work continuously. Everyone, including us, has their limits. If we do not recognize those limits and care for our bodies, a day may come when we are so tired we no longer care about what we are doing. When we are refreshed we can accomplish far more than when we labor in exhaustion. The world appears brighter and God seems closer, when we have rested.
Leaders are so busy and face such enormous demands that we may require more than a short nap to be recharged. Sometimes we need an extended rest. As leaders, we can feel guilty for slowing down or relaxing. At times we need someone to give us permission to cease from our labors. If this is your situation, be of good cheer! God, through the Scriptures, regularly instructs us to rest. In fact, he commands us to.
When was the last time you truly rested? Have you recharged your spirit and physical strength to the point you feel ready for whatever God has for you next? Restoration is not laziness. It is preparing yourself to enthusiastically undertake whatever assignment God has for you next.