Rest

 

I was attending a work training on mental health and wellness yesterday and one of the affirmations I was given was this one. 

I give myself permission to rest.

But we were also given some cautionary guidelines.

What are you resting from? If you can't answer that question with something productive you are merely switching diversionary activities.  

Things like reading, non-work screen time, puzzles, baking, exercise, napping, video games, hobbies, etc.

Those things can be very important in helping us get our minds off our troubles, to-dos, and hard work.  

But if we don't adequately switch back to doing those,  the lists grow, problems continue to canker and we fall further behind.

Escapism (using those activities to not have to deal with hard things or unpleasant or non-preferred activities or emotions) is what happens when we continue to sit at the charging station long after our battery is recharged.  And it's not healthy for the battery.

Do we deserve rest?

ABSOLUTELY! 

God gave us a whole day of rest every seventh day! 

But HOW we rest is important.

Jesus said, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)

We don't have to run faster than we have strength.  

But we will sometimes have to run.

How beautiful that He will GIVE us the rest we need.  We just need to make sure however we choose to rest brings us closer to following Him, not further away.