I’ve had a cold for about a week, and it’s been one more reminder that we really do need rest.

It’s a reminder because I’ve learned this lesson before, mostly by burning out—and there’s nothing glorious about being burnt out. You’re desperately tired, unpleasant to be around, and very likely to make some bad decisions.

The solution to working too hard is both simple and difficult. It’s simple because even if it’s not time for a vacation, all you need to do is things like take a few hours off, take a day off, or only do a couple of things on your weekend to-do list.

It’s incredibly difficult because there are so many things to do, and if you have colleagues or kids depending on you, they really do need your help.

Being needed by others leads to an even harder level of difficulty: humility. Who wants to say to a loved one or colleague, “I’m just not able to do this. In fact, I need your help.”

Rest is not just suggested in the Bible, it is built into the fabric of the universe. Every day, there is morning, and there is evening. Every week, there is a day of rest—a day of rest that even God took. And if you look at ancient Israel‘s holiday calendar, every month there is a double weekend, and every year, there are multiple long holidays. I’ve been reading through Luke lately, and I’ve been convicted/encouraged by Mary and Joseph. When they took Jesus to the temple when he was 12, it says they stayed “the full number of days.” They took their devotion, and their rest, seriously!

Rest is not selfish. Rest refreshes your body, heart, and mind so you have the energy to work. As one of my bosses used to say, “Go home and rest, and come back Monday ready to work!”

Resources

As you might expect, there are many resources available.

• BibleProject: The Restless Craving for Rest (podcast)
• The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry (book)
• From Burned Out to Beloved: Soul Care for Wounded Healers. (This book is written from the perspective of a professional caregiver, but applies to many types of relationships.)

Wondering how burned out you might be?

• A self-assessment tool from Psychology Today (focused on the workplace)
• A self-assessment tool from HealthinAging.org (focused on caring for a relative)