I Just Need A Break!

Are you tired? You do 'all of the things,' and they have you feeling drained. When you wake up in the morning, you aren't excited anymore. Instead, you start the count-down to the next break. Maybe that’s lunch or when the kids go down for naps.

When you finally get that break, you are craving the next one, then bed, and before you know it...the cycle has begun again. When we live life like this, we aren't really living. We are floating through our days like zombies looking for the nearest coffee pot!

BURN OUT

God did not create us to live counting down the hours until bedtime. When this has happens, we are likely burnt out!

Yes, sister, we might be too proud in thinking we can go non-stop, even when doing spiritual things. But, if we keep ignoring the signs that our well-made bodies are giving us, they will eventually start slowing down and we will be forced to stop.

God, the Creator of the world gave the example of resting in Genesis 2:2. "By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work."

God is all-powerful and yet He rested. He then did something interesting. He told His people to rest as well! "Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work," Exodus 20:9-10

HUSTLE

Rest has become unpopular. We hear a lot more about hustling, grinding, and not sleeping. However, there is only one Person who doesn't need rest and that is God Himself. This is why it doesn't work for us.

Whether we like it or not, we have limitations. We are not God. We need rest! If we don't get what we need, our bodies will start to tell us. There is something humbling in saying, "I need to sleep!" It acknowledges our frailty, our need for someone who is much stronger than us!

MANNA

When we are walking around zombiefied- by choice- we have forgotten the daily bread we have access to through Christ.  With the day of rest that God had commanded to the Israelites, He also made provisions. He gave food, which was called Manna.

“Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much food— ...“This is what the LORD has said: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy Sabbath to the LORD. So bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. Then set aside whatever remains and keep it until morning.’” Exodus 16:21-23

If we are taking things into our own hands, day in and day out, without breaks, we are saying with our actions, "I am my god and I trust myself." Yes, the world says that nearly killing yourself for production's sake is admirable, but God says it’s prideful.

FOR OUR REST

What we shouldn’t do is follow the footsteps of the Pharisees' and make ‘keeping rests’ a law or a duty. In Christ, we are free from the law. However, we are still to rest. This can be Spirit-Led when it comes to specifics. You know when you are about at your edge...and the people around you know it too. Listen. There should be no guilt in resting!

One of the main ways of resting is by spending time with God regularly. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)." When we make a habit of spending set aside time with God, we will find ourselves with more of His rest.

There are those times where we are in the thick of the daily tasks. Ya know, people say to take a break, and ‘us regular people’ have to work. We aren't like those that we see on Instagram. They go on frequent vacations and stay in nice hotels. Yeah, no! That's not us!

HE IS ALWAYS THERE

One helpful thing to remember is that though we may not be able to get away, we have God with us at every moment of the day. We can take a bathroom break and use it to ask Him for help. We can say a short prayer under our breaths as a sort of cry for His help.

Though we do need those times where we pull away for longer amounts of time, making a habit to pray without ceasing will help us. The LORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest (Exodus 33:14).” If we can remember that God is always with us, maybe we can also remember His rest.

Sister, when you are anxious, He is there. When you are confused, He is there. When you are sad, He is there. When you need comfort, He is there. He is all! He is your Rest! Do you acknowledge Him? Or, are you trying to do it all by yourself?

THE THOUGHTS YOU THINK

Not only do you need rest in the physical, but sister you need rest in your thought-life. What are you thinking? Are you thinking thoughts that are more in agreement with God's Word or the world? In order to find more rest, we have to take some thoughts captive. One of them is that "I am enough!" I have seen this spread across Instagram and Facebook and its a lie!

That is why we end up so stressed out! We try to walk in "I am enough!" and we realize it takes more than what we have. Without Christ, we can do absolutely nothing (John 15)! Christ is enough. In Christ, He equips us...but that still doesn't make us enough. It's more accurate to say, "Christ is doing the work in and through me. I decrease and He Increases. Christ is enough in me!"

When we live our lives humbly, it takes the pressure off of ourselves in the beginning. Instead of depending on ourselves, we depend on Him for everything, and He will provide all we need. He promised! "But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19)."

And with that, surely there will be a release in our bodies. We will find a rest that was not there before. A rest that is sourced in Christ!

SLEEP

Many people view sleep as optional. When things in life start piling up, the first thing to go is usually quiet-time, and next is sleep. We think a few hours don't matter.

Now, I have some amazing people in my life that happen to be moms. God has given them a ‘special grace’ to take care of their families on limited sleep. But sister, if you have the opportunity to sleep...SLEEP! Your body needs it.

Again, you are not God. He is the only One that can function without it. This mentality of "Sleep when I die." is dangerous. If you follow it, you won't actually live life. You will zombie your way through it...unless you are one of the rare ones who really do thrive on 3 hours.

If you are afraid you are losing time, don't worry, God doesn't sleep. He is still taking care of things while you rest. "Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." Psalm 121:4

CARE DAYS

Finally, there are those well-needed care days! This is where we pull back and do what helps us relax. For me, bath bombs. Oh yes girl, I love me a good bath bomb, DIY Face Mask, and a Podcast.

For some, it's going to a friends house and eating all the chocolate with no shame. Or, catching up on Gilmore Girls. For others, it's taking a break from social media and taking advantage of the quiet. I enjoy that too. Whatever that thing is, do it! You will notice a difference!

GOD'S IDEA

This whole, "Take Care Of Yourself Thing" was created by God. He called us to rest, remember. Let's ask Him to help us do it in a way that honors Him and brings ease to our bodies, so that we can continue living lives for His glory!

PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW