Stopping To Rest

[bluidkiti]

Stopping To Rest

Genesis 2:2-3: “…God had finished the work he had been doing…he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

“My doctor says I must take a day off each week to rest. He says that if I don’t, I will almost certainly experience total physical and emotional exhaustion,” commented the youth pastor of a large metropolitan church. “But I don’t see how I can manage that. I just don’t have time to take off.”

Many of us identify with this overworked pastor. We believe that we do not have time to rest and relax. One of the burnout warning signs is the attitude that “I’ve got to keep going. I can’t stop now. I’m on a roll. I can do it. I don’t need to rest.” But if we do not pace ourselves; if we do not stop to rest, eventually we will burnout. The risk is great.

God rested after he completed the seventh day of creation. He rested not because he was tired, but to set an example for us. Stopping to rest is acceptable with God. It does not make us any less valuable or worthwhile to admit that we need to cease working and creating to rest. God loves us when we work, when we rest, and when we play.

Lord God, change my misconceptions

about accomplishments, relaxation, and recreation.

Please teach me how to live a balanced life.

Joan C. Webb

[MajestyJo]

This made me think of the song below:

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Sang it in church and with my sisters as a trio when we sang at church.