You Have to Know When to Stop and Rest
All last week, I felt like I was teetering on the edge between sickness and health. My uncle was sick, my father-in-law was sick, and then my mother-in-law got sick too.
But I kept pushing.
I kept telling myself, I need to be strong. I have responsibilities. I have things that need to get done.
So I continued through the week. I went on with my men’s retreat, spent time out in the rain, grabbed a quick nap here and there, and just kept moving.
Then this morning, it hit me like a ton of bricks.
I woke up feeling worse than I have this entire time, and I realized something: sometimes strength isn’t pushing through. Sometimes strength is knowing when to stop.
Had I listened to my body and rested when I first knew something wasn’t right, I might already be feeling better. Instead, I kept pushing because I confused slowing down with weakness.
God never called us to run ourselves into the ground.
Jesus Himself stepped away from the crowds to rest and pray. Scripture tells us:
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 CSB
Sometimes we need to listen when God is telling us to slow down. Listen when the Holy Spirit is telling us something isn’t right. And yes, listen when your body is telling you that it needs rest.
But there is an important distinction: rest is not laziness.
Laziness avoids what needs to be done. Rest prepares you to do what God has called you to do.
There is no prize for running yourself into the ground trying to prove how strong you are. Sometimes the wisest and most obedient thing you can do is stop, be still, recover, and trust God enough to realize that the world will keep turning while you rest.
Know when to push. Know when to persevere. But also know when God is telling you, “It’s time to rest.”
— Rev. Carlos Figueroa
TheFreeBible.org —
