Running is in my blood. It’s a part of who I am. My mom reminds me often that since I learned how to walk I have been running everywhere. As a younger kid I ran everywhere I went, which resulted in at least 3 trips to the emergency room for stiches in my head. In middle and high school I began competing in track and field as a sprinter. When I headed off to college I continued running but as a cross country runner, competing in 5 mile races. After graduating from college, I continued to run eventually doing a half marathon.

I’ve trained for all kinds of running in my life – sprinting, distance, and marathons. Each training requires something unique but they all have one thing in common…rest. No matter what type of running I was training for they all had “rest days” built into the schedule. When I was younger I didn’t understand what the need for rest days were. But as I have gotten older, the importance of rest in my training routines has proven invaluable. The same is true of life, work, and ministry.

“Don’t fall into the mindset that downtime is wasted time. It is not. You will go further faster if you slow down and rest.”

Daniel Seabaugh

Rest seems so counterproductive at times. There is a task I could accomplish or project to continue instead of resting. To sit around and do nothing or just enjoy life seems as if it is a waste of time. Yet as I found out in my training regimens, the rest prepares you to train harder and better next time. The same is true of our lives in work and ministry. In a world that is consumed by a disease of productivity and activity, rest can be an antidote for the soul. Daniel Seabaugh discusses the importance of rest in his article “Don’t Underestimate the Value of Rest” and gives 3 suggestions on how to enjoy rest.

READ THE ARTICLE

Without adequate rest damage occurs. I found this out the hard way multiple times throughout my years of running. Pushing through often means pushing into injury. This is not only true in athletics is also true for our souls. There are times we need to push through, persevere tough seasons, and be worn down for good things. However, if we always do this there will inevitably be harm, injury, and damage not just to our bodies, but our souls. So my question for you is: how do you ensure you get adequate rest physically and for your soul? As always be with the Lord’s people on the Lord’s day.

Until Next Time…