I’ve been going to the gym every day for months and have been enjoying it, but I discovered that the gains in my weight training and general fitness, which I experienced during my earlier days of working out, slowed gradually and reached a point of standstill over time. I responded to the slowing of my progress by working out harder, but that didn’t help.
I resolved to stay the course and hope for the best at that point, when a friend of mine asked if I had considered taking days off or incorporating lighter workout days into my routine. I hadn’t considered taking days off or working less hard as strategies for exercise, but agreed to take a swipe at it to see if it made a difference.
Strangely enough, it did. As it turns out, our bodies need time to rest and grow in order to improve. Human beings are designed to take regular rests in order to regenerate and recover. There is a principal behind this revelation that is worth taking note of and applying to our lives.
“Rest is necessary if we are going to grow and improve as people.” The Bible calls these days of rest “Sabbath” and they’re so important that the 10 Commandments include a directive to take a day of rest every week. Most everyone I know takes a day or two off of work every week, but I’ve discovered that it’s rare for folks to actually take a day of rest.
Instead, days off become the time when we get everything on the “honey-do” list done. Rest days become opportunities to do work elsewhere in our lives. Another use for “rest days” is running out to “do something” to rest, even though running all over chasing entertainment often exhausts us.
Another poor substitute for rest that is common in our culture is wasting hours mindlessly online or in front of the TV. Real rest involves more than inaction or simple recreation, though these are a part of rest.
Rest also involves refueling personally by spending time enjoying our family and friends. During my vacation this year, I went deer hunting with a good friend. Talking, laughing, and spending time together was every bit a part of resting. In fact, of the things I did to relax during my vacation, time spent enjoying company of friends did more to recharge me than anything else.
I find that I am more refueled spending time with people than I am loafing around the house. Feeding our souls is another way we can effective refuel ourselves during times of rest. This sounds strange, but is more about spending time doing things that inspire us.
During my break, I read a book that got me excited about several aspects of pastoring and have me raring to get back to work. I wouldn’t likely have taken the time to read and soak in the same material had I not been intentionally trying to rest and recuperate.
This is the point behind the Biblical principal of Sabbath. Sabbath existed so that God’s people could rest, enjoy the creation, study for growth, spend time with each other, and spend time with Him.
All of these activities help us to grow to be what we were made to be. Rest days are a gift from God.
