It’s Saturday morning and I have to take my car into the garage, reply to a ton of emails and tidy up before a friend comes round for lunch. Then I need to book train tickets for a weekend away with my girls, do my washing and buy my brother’s birthday present. If I don’t get all those things done today they won’t get done for another week – or two – but all I really want to do is stay curled up in bed and sleep!
Does that sound familiar? Life is BUSY. Friends, education, work, hobbies, life admin and church stuff make for a very full week. And all those things are good! You don’t want to drop anything and you definitely can’t cut anyone out.
But rest is good too. And we need it!
I’m really bad at resting if I know that I have a hundred and one things to tick off my To-Do list. I’m not super-organised (I’m a born procrastinator) and I struggle to properly relax if I know that I have stuff to do. I have to remind myself that if I stop juggling everything and let the balls drop that’s ok. God loves me and my friends and family love me, not because I keep the tidiest house or always pay my bills on time or get back to their emails quickly, but just for me being me. And I will understand and know that better if I stop and realise it and enjoy it!
The long and short of it is that God knows what’s best for us and He tells us to rest. Rest was woven into creation; it was invented at the beginning of time. God gives us peace that is nothing to do with getting things done or being the perfect friend or making the best plans.
So if you’re feeling tired at the end of the week, look at your to-do list again and decide which of those good and important things on there are going to refresh you today, give you a break and help you enjoy living. Choose things that give you joy and peace and maybe say no to some things that you can’t manage today.
A friend asked me one weekend why on earth I was going out to a dance class when I looked like I needed to sleep for an afternoon. But for me, dancing gives me so much energy! It makes me feel alive and refreshed and positive. Another real refresher is spending time with old friends who I can be completely myself with. That doesn’t mean that I don’t love doing other things with other wonderful people – I really, really do! But sometimes I have to say no for now and wait till I have a bit more energy.
So this afternoon I’ve decided that I’m going to hang out with my housemate and we’re going to go shopping together. Some important things will get done, others won’t. And I’m grateful to God that I can have peace in that.
