Relaxation is important. It is important to God, “on the seventh day he rested from all his work…” (Genesis 2:2 NIV) It was important to Jesus, ““Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.”" He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. (Mark 6:31 NLT). It should be important to us. I am a great one to talk because I struggle with the concept of rest. For our own personal wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around us, we need to take daily breaks and extended ones, like a vacation. Rest is important. It provides time to strengthen the body, the mind and the soul.
I like what one writer states, “Rest and relaxation are not optional. Rest was never meant to be a luxury, but a necessity for growth, maturity, and health. We need rest because our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being demands periodic breaks." The old proverb is true, “If you don’t come apart and rest awhile, you will come apart.”
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens, a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity. Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, “Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.” The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, “If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be fit for use when you want it.”
We all relax in different ways. At one point in my life, it was jogging, I loved it and it gave me a way to relieve stress and revitalize. Today, I cannot do that so I turn to other avenues to renew my strength and spend time with the Lord. The important thing is that we take time. I think one of Satan’s tools is to convince us that we should feel guilty when we make relaxation part of a well-balanced life. God calls us to a balanced life, my friends, and relaxation is part of that!
Make time to relax. The changes that we have faced, and will face, as life gets back to a new normal have created stress. Taking time to refresh and relax is important as we adjust. Often times, a great way to unwind is by doing something we love, like: cooking, reading, colouring, gardening, fishing, painting, knitting, etc. Remember, as the old Proverb goes, “Take a rest: a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”
Have a great day and may God’s love encourage and bless you
– Pastor Ralph
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