By Katy Mariotti

Rest!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.”
Genesis 2:2 English Standard Version

Rest is important! Do you need another reminder? I know I do. We think that we have to go go go all the time.  If we haven’t done enough during the day we call ourselves lazy. Even on vacations or days off, we feel we need to fill that time with activity. But we don’t! Look at the animals around us. How often do we see animals in the wild, or at the zoo, or the pets in our home, just lying? (As evidenced here by our tiny dog curled up on a traveling neck pillow).

And if that’s not enough of an example, God Himself, the Creator of the universe who can do ALL things, rested. Jesus frequently rested in His time here on earth, and He encouraged His apostles to do the same, as seen here before the feeding of the 5,000:

“And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.”
Mark 6:31 ESV

Have I written about rest before? Yep. But is it important enough to mention again? It is. When we don’t allow our bodies and minds to rest, we risk more severe health problems both in body AND mind. Rest allows us to refresh and start over rejuvenated.

I am pregnant right now and my body is letting me know pretty quickly when I’ve done too much. When I pause to sit I start thinking “I can’t believe I have to stop, I have so much more to do!” I have to remind myself that along with the usual household and work tasks I’m doing, my body is also growing a human, and therefore requires more rest.

I pray for you on this Labor Day weekend for actual rest. Time for healing and rejuvenation. We are blessed in our labors, and we are also blessed in rest from the Lord!

Copyright Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado