“By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” — Genesis 2:2-3
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I recently watched a professional basketball coach being interviewed in depth about his player “rotations.” Why is this such an important topic? Because one of the keys to winning in basketball is to have a deep player rotation. Fresh players make a difference in rebounding, defense and steals. Winning coaches build strong rotations to provide rest and increase productivity. Taking a break is part of a winning strategy!
Yet, as Christians, it seems we are not very skilled at resting. We push our bodies to their physical limits and become overworked, anxious and exhausted. We try hard to do things in our own power, ignoring God and His planned rhythms for our lives. We run on empty, forgetting our purpose, and wonder where Jesus is in our exhaustion. Our lives slowly start to tilt out of balance.
But Jesus invites us to come to Him when we are weary and burdened, promising us rest for our souls. “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light’” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT).
Spiritual and even physical rest can be a time to refuel, recharge and reaffirm our dependence on God alone as our source of strength and to soak in His presence. Rest truly is an act of worship. Trust your Head Coach. “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10a).
— Melissa Motes
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