Are You A Rest Resister?
Everything I read about a balanced life
stresses the importance of rest.
Really?
Rest?
Just the thought of rest stresses me out!
I’m too busy to REST!
Depending on the season, I have a family to take care of, kids to shuttle, pets to clean up after, a house to run, meals to plan, groceries to buy, food to prepare, laundry to wash, dry, fold, iron and put away. I have a full time job, meetings to attend, cars to maintain, books to read, a blog to write and a sidewalk to shovel.
I don’t have time to rest!
Sound familiar?
I’m sure it does.
The fact is, that you need to rest as much as you need to breathe.
Truth be told,
REST IS WORK FOR ME!
I come from a long line of over achieving women who made multitasking an art form.
Rest isn’t something that comes naturally to me.
When I think about rest, something inside me seizes up.
Somewhere in my conditioning, I started to equate rest with laziness, weakness, and wasted time.
So untrue.
Sleep specialist Dr. Matthew Edlund believes it’s vital to build times of rest into your daily life.
Rest is medically defined as a person’ s state of repose.
It simply means to cease from work or activity.
But in today’s society, most of us don’t know the meaning of rest and don’t know how to rest.
In fact, most of us boast about how busy we are!
Lest you use this need for rest as an excuse to binge watch Netflix,
I am sorry to say that rest is NOT vegging out in front of the television.
According to Dr. Edlund, TV viewing does allow for a degree of cellular renewal,
but the brain will still be buzzing – indeed, studies show that in some patient’s,
more energy is used up watching TV than when the brain is performing tasks.
What does restorative rest look like?
For me, the easiest rest is making time to socialize with friends. Having conversations about real life.
Simply enjoying their company.
Other forms of rest are found by establishing a quiet time of 10-15 minutes a day to just listen for God to speak to me. Or time spent in prayer.
It’s being quiet, dreaming, visualizing pleasant scenarios, enjoying good music or taking a nap.
A Greek study showed that a 30-minute nap at least three times a week cuts your risk of heart attack by 37%, and a NASA study found a nap of 26 minutes could improve work performance on some tasks by 38%.
Who knew?
Rest can make you more alert and effective,
reduce stress levels and
give you a better chance of a healthier and longer life.
Rest refreshes and rejuvenates you!
What’s your best rest plan?
As a rest resister, I need all the suggestions I can get!
I’d love to hear your idea.
Scripture Refresher: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29 NIV)
Prayer: God, you know the pace I keep to serve you and serve others. Remind me that you are able to get everything done that needs to be done, and as I trust and follow you, teach me how to work and rest. Restore me so that I can be who you made me to be.
Thank you Robyn for all your wise words
Thank You for the message – I felt your message was directed at me ! I have always been a worker ;)) and if you don’t work you are lazy ! I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1997 & I am Blessed . I mourned the passing of my old self & it is hard not working as I did before . I need to remember my old self has passed & I need to embrace & accept my new life . It is God’s Grace that gives me the strength & courage I need . I am Thankful for the Women Anew weekend I attended & had the privilege to experience renewal ?? I am Blessed?
Well said. I try to nap on my days off. My problem is I do not get enough rest on work days and I nap on days off to catch up. I am not sure that is good.
Hey, Robyn! Hit the nail on the head. This has been on my heart for the past few weeks! Especially in regards to the
Sabbath and resting and keeping it Holy. Been trying to find new ways to rest on Sundays because He did it and said for me to
do it! (And it really regenerates and focuses me for the week. ) Worship, reading, singing hymns and thinking about who wrote them them and what they mean. Listening.
Stopping and making myself sit and listen to my spirit when I lose thankifulness and joy from busy-ness. (Discovered busy-ness robs me of living in the moment and I’m no longer ‘connected’ and joyful! READING THE PSALMS OUT LOUD!!! (Saved my life literally more than once!!)
I don’t want to be a rest resister anymore! Thanks for inspiring me to focus on this subject consciously!
On the seventh day, HE rested!! Amen. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and must Rest, from the stressors of this life. Meditate on the Word and be at Rest. WE serve an awesome God, who wants us to have, Love, Peace and Joy. Without Rest in the Lord, we might grow faint. Be strong and associate with positive sisters and brothers in Christ. Than we can and will bear much fruit for the Kingdom of God.
I am so excited to meet you and hear more of your story at our Bethany Women’s Retreat April 8th in beatiful North Conway, NH
As an overachieving woman myself, I am in the throws of having to rest from eight weeks of prolonged illness. I am a rest-resister!
I started with a sinus infection treated with antibiotics which threw my thyroid into a tail spin. At the age of 63, I had long left behind the anxiety and mood swings that came with menopuase. And here I am finding myself feeling once again like I am losing my mind. I am very hopeful that the naturopath I am scheduled to see will have a good plan for me to get back on track. Traditional medicine is not changing my circumstances as all my tests come back “normal”.
It has been a journey of surrendering to God’s timing-not mine. Patience is not my strong suit and my sister Karen and I will be giving a short testimony together at the retreat on patience in prayer.
God has blessed me beyond measure through this prolonged period of illness. Even when I am kicking and screaming at not getting my own way; not having a qucik fix, He loves me through others. My husband, an unbeiever, has been a wonderful support and I cannot imagine having been widowed twice with two sons to raise as you have. Each one of us has a unique journey and we women love to share our stories!
Grateful for the opportunity to spend a weekend with other women and hearing what God has put on your heart to share with us!
See you in North Conway.
Ann
Ann, You and I are cut from the same cloth! Keep resting so you can get better soon. I look forward to meeting you in NH in April to swap rest resisting stories. Blessings on you!