Finding Rest

Many of you can relate to what I’m going to share today. You know you need to find rest but you don’t. Neither do I. I can struggle to find time to rest.

I think of my regular schedule. It’s a full day in the office, only to go on a run in the evenings. Or maybe it’s helping to lead the youth group on Wednesday nights. Then the weekend comes. It’s time to rest!

Oh, no… It’s not.

The weekend is full of trying to do various activities. There’s the Saturday run. Then a regular trip out of town. Then maybe a youth group event, family outing, or something else. Sunday, there’s church, perhaps a church event, and more.

My week is crammed full of activities. It’s kind of scary when I stop to think about it.

Do you feel me? Does your week feel similar to this? Much of our time is spent doing things.

Rest is for the weak…

Right?!?

I don’t think so. I believe rest plays a critical role in the health and vitality of a leader. Without rest, a leader will crumble.

Finding Rest

Finding rest will not be easy. There are so many demands on our lives. We have to place a sacred barrier around our rest time.

But how do we do this? How do we make sure we place rest as a priority in our lives? I believe it is the exact same way you do everything else. You have to schedule out times of rest.

Finding rest could look like this:

  • Spending an afternoon soaking up the sun at the local beach
  • Taking a nap while hanging in your hammock
  • Shutting off all electronic devices and talking with your spouse
  • Sitting in your comfortable recliner with relaxing music playing on your home sound system
  • Building a model airplane

Rest looks different for everyone. But everyone needs to find the way they rest, schedule it, and protect their time of rest.

The more rest you find yourself taking, the more recharged you’re going to be for the coming struggles of the week.

Don’t take my word that rest is essential. Here are a few people you may know talking about the importance of rest.

What Others Have To Say About Rest

Rest but never quit. Even the sun has a sinking spell each evening. But it always rises the next morning. At sunrise, every soul is born again.

–Muhammad Ali

When you rest, you catch your breath and it holds you up, like water wings…

Anne Lamott

There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither.”

Alan Cohen

Learning to rest is an ongoing process.

–Rachel Hollis

We don’t know how to rest anymore. We don’t allow the body to rest, to release the tension, and heal.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Make sure you’re taking time to rest. Rest is restoration. Rest is rejuvenation.

Follow Me