4:301 – I Need A Break But Feel I Can’t Take One

#faithbites #faithjourney break

Setting

Sometimes like farthest distance to cross is the 18 inches between your head and your heart. I was talking to both my wife and best friend about gifts for the holidays. I found an old-school Star Wars video game that I would love. Then I said that I don’t need it as it’s not practical. They both said it would be fun and you don’t always have to be practical. You can take a break and have fun. Here’s the thing. I know I need a break, I know it’s ok to take a break, but it’s hard to actually do it. Whenever I take a break, like playing video games, I feel like I’m wasting time. When I’m 3D printing and I can’t sell it to someone, I feel like I’ve wasted materials and time. I know this isn’t healthy. But what do you do?

Today’s Questions: How do you take a break when your mind says yes but your heart says no? What can you do to balance your work and life to be able to rest but not inconvenience others?

Scripture

• 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.
• Exodus 20:8-11 – ⁸ “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ You have six days each week for your ordinary work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.

Reflection

When some look at Genesis 2:2, they see that even God rested. We have seen that Jesus often rested as well. When I look at Genesis 2:2, I don’t focus on the fact that God rested, but that he rested when he finished his work (or other translations – the work of creation). For me, I say, “Well God only rested when it was done, I’m not done yet, no rest”. Yes, this is foolish and stupid. It’s our society of work, work, work.

God addresses that in Exodus by saying we should work for 6 days and rest on the 7. He goes into details on how we keep it Holy. Jesus later clarifies that we aren’t not doing work to honor God but we are not doing work because we need to rest. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27).

So we have God resting, God making a day of rest, and Jesus tells us that we need the rest. And yet, we still have trouble taking a break because “the work will pile up” or “others will have to do it”.

I have to break out of this cycle. I’m assuming I’m not alone.
As we close, remember that even if your heart is saying you can’t take a break, you need to. God tells you that.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for setting an example with rest. Thank you for sending Jesus to clarify what you meant with a Sabbath day. Please help us to take the rest that you know we need. Stop us from filling every moment of every day with something. We pray for calm heads and hearts as we become examples of work and rest. In your name, Amen.