Everyone needs a little… rest.
My week has not started out very well. For one, I slept from 7pm to 1pm Saturday to Sunday, trying to fight off what I was feeling as a start to a sinus infection. What I didn’t know was 1) I would sleep as long as I did that day and more in the coming days and 2) that I would get sick regardless of how much I “slept.” Now it’s Tuesday and I am fighting stomach, sinus, and respiratory somethings *hack hack*.
Most people know that I burn the candle at both ends. I thrive off of productivity, helping people, being with people, and doing things I love. The problem: I don’t rest when I probably should and need to. I keep pushing, keep going, and keep pressing.
The last 2-3 days of not feeling well, coughing so much that I sneeze and then my chest hurts, and blowing my nose until it’s raw, has not been fun to say the least. No one likes that. Even though I’ve been sleeping as much as possible and drinking fluids non stop, rest is something different. I’m at the point that my body has said “STOP. Time to REST. Not just Sleep.”
Rest doesn’t mean sleep, or rather sleep alone although most people think that. It actually means: freedom from activity or labor; peace of mind or spirit. I’d like to think of it as getting away mentally and letting life freeze around you.
I looked up some bible verses on rest which I found to be quite refreshing. As I was reading them, I was reminded of few songs I listened to all the time when I was in college, about 5+ years ago. My friend Kari Jobe had released an album when I was in college with a song called “Everyone needs a little…” on it, along with a song called “Healer.” I decided to put these songs on tonight and when I did, I found them to be so refreshing and restful to my spirit and body, like they did so 5+ years ago.
The lyrics are simple but beautiful:
Come all ye weary and ye broken
Come to the table of the Lord
Come sing the song of the forgiven
Come lay your burden on the word
Come and find peace
Everyone needs a little rest
Everyone needs a little joy
And a song to sing in the darkest night
And life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little
And life even when it gets you down
Hope will turn it all around
But love is the greatest of these
Everyone needs a little
Everyone needs a little
Everyone needs a little
I believe You’re my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe
And I believe You’re my portion
I believe You’re more than enough for me
Jesus You’re all I need
When I was in college for some reason I was able to find rest and “get away” on a regular basis. And rest didn’t mean sleeping in. I rested not because I was hung over, exhausted from studying… no I would prioritize rest and make it normal. My University had a prayer tower, literally, that had leather couches and it was open all the time. Between classes I’d go just to get away, to read, to sit, to listen, to think. I took time to rest. It could have been I had more time with not working full time, but I was a full time student, I was heavily involved with campus activities and student life. Somehow I’ve walked away from regular resting, but am realizing more and more of the need to prioritize rest and emotional and mental well-being. It’s been 5+ years since I “rested” routinely… no wonder I’m reminded and reminiscing my last 2 to 3 college years tonight.
Here are some bible verses that I found to be encouraging on this rainy evening of not feeling well physically. I hope they are an encouragement for some others as well tonight. And with that, I’m off to sleep some more and to get some real rest.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
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