Rest for the Body and Soul

Ever been so wrapped up in life you don’t even realize just how wrapped up you are?

So distracted, that when rest becomes inevitable, you dismiss it as unproductive, obstructive, a hindrance to your everyday flow?

Today I was feeling inspired to write something a little differently. It doesn’t have to do with books… (although, knowing me, they will find a way into my writing), but I hope you stick around. It might just be what you need to hear…

At first, I was the embodiment of my two previous questions. Rushing from this activity to that activity. Not stopping. Not paying attention to the fact that my body needed to breathe. I would tell myself, “Just one more thing I have to check off my list” or “I’ll relax later, it’s fine”. Well, I didn’t. Don’t worry, nothing drastic happened. Running myself into the ground while calling it “productive” isn’t a new thing for me, and it will probably happen again. It didn’t feel like resting was possible, though. There was too much to get done. 

So, I got sick. I caught something. And I was forced to stop. I physically couldn’t get up off the couch if I wanted to. I missed fun events I was looking forward to. I had to postpone get-togethers with people I wanted to hang out with. I had to rest in order to get back up to full speed again. I would have much preferred resting under better circumstances, so I let that be a reminder to take a breath before I regret my decision to go nonstop. 

But guess what? 

After I stopped fighting the fact that the only thing I could do was sleep and heal, I realized how productive resting actually was. I was rejuvenating my body and mind as I slept. I watched movies and read books (great, right?), I napped while listening to an audiobook or music, and I took care of myself. 

Scratching off to-dos on your checklist is great. It feels great; at least, I hope it does. But it’s not the only way to be efficient. You can’t work when your mind is somewhere else, so how can you work when your mind is just as exhausted as your body? You’ve got to give yourself an emotional break too. We harbor so many feelings and process so many different situations, millions of times a day. You’ve got to destress both your tired muscles and tired thoughts. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 

Well, one way you glorify God with your body is how you care for it by resting, body and soul, such as Matthew 11:28-30 tells us. “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

God not only tells us to heed this message, but commands us to do so by giving us a Sabbath day. That can be any day of the week. Even a couple minutes to an hour of rest can do wonders. Resting doesn’t necessarily mean deep sleep, either. It can simply mean taking long breaths, sitting for a moment, closing your eyes, reading a book, or going for a gentle walk. You know yourself, and you can decide how you’d best get your source of respite. 

Okay, one last little thing before I go. 

Look outside. I hope you see at least a bit of Creation. If not, go someplace you do. God is all around us, like a comforting blanket us readers take pride in when reading a cozy novel. You don’t have to go far at all to see Him. Since we are sinful humans, it most likely, most of the time, takes us a minute to recognize Him, though. 

What do I mean by that?

Well, back to life distracting us. As I said, I was incredibly busy and focused only on that. I talked to God, but didn’t realize I could see Him too. Not until this very morning. He reminded me—with spa music, in fact—that He was in every piece of Life. He Created it. He is our Master Designer, our Artist. And isn’t He just…awe. He is Awe. That’s the only way to put it. 

Why I realized this when I heard spa music? I don’t know. Maybe because it is relaxing, and instantly transports me to a lush jungle with only the sounds of nature for me to enjoy. Maybe because God can use anything He wants to talk to us. Nonetheless, as I rested, as I listened, as I stopped giving ear to the World, and was still, He could finally have my attention, and calmed my soul in a way only my Father in Heaven can. 

“For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭20). We are without excuse to deny ever seeing God, since He is in everything He made. Perhaps we need to stop and smell the flowers—the ones He made—more frequently than we think. You never know what He wants to tell you. 

If you read this, I hope you were blessed. If you were, it was God’s work, not mine. I know this was not my usual post, but when Jesus wants me to write something, who am I to refuse? I pray every soul finds rest. 

As the Apostle Paul said, Grace and Peace from our Father in Heaven.

—Your Bookish Beachcomber ;)

*Photo taken by blog creator*