It’s Okay to Stop and Take a Break

I wish I could tell you that life is a line that goes upward with each passing day, but that would not be the truth. The truth is there are seasons in our life when we are full of energy. Then there are times when we feel we cannot do anything because we are unmotivated by what’s going on in life.

Is it normal to go through a season where we feel tired, burnt-out, mentally drained, or even like what is the point?

The answer is yes and thankfully we can draw from the Bible to learn that feeling tired, weary, or burnt-out can happen even to the best of people.

Elijah a man of God who was full of his power had good moments and had hard times too.

After proving to God‘s people and others that Yahweh was the true and living God his life was threatened by Jezebel.

Afraid, alone, and feeling scared he ran away. In a cave all by himself, he cried out to God (1 Kings 19).

You might be scratching your head thinking how could this man full of faith and victory all of a sudden drop to a low point of tiredness and discouragement? His story reminds us that even the best of people can face low points in life.

But when this happened, what did this man of faith do? He went to sleep. Now you are probably scratching your head again. Sleep? Probably you thought he was going to pray, fast, serve, speak, do something spiritual….. but instead, it says sleep. Sometimes in life, we just need to stop. Take a break. Maybe even a vacation because we are tired. We just need to rest.

But some of us are reluctant to rest.

Let me remind you that it’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to tell people you can’t make it to their event. It’s okay to tell people that you need to rest.

Rest is something God did. After creating the earth and everything in it within six days on the seventh day God arrested. If God rested, why do we think we are exempted from the rest?

Have you been tired of being sick?

Are you feeling drained from your marriage?

Do you feel tired because of work?

Are you tired of this pandemic?

Maybe you just need to rest. Go to bed and get some rest.

What’s amazing in the story is after Elijah rested, God provided for his needs. God gave him some bread and something to drink. The Lord powerfully spoke to him. Reminded him to go back and gave him some instructions. God encouraged him that he was not the only one that was serving the Lord for there were 7000 other people who did not serve the Baal gods.

After you have physically rested and God has spoken to you, you’ll be ready for what God wants you to do.

You will be ready to parent, work, love your spouse, your kids, help others, serve God.

Whatever God is calling you to do you will be ready because He is the One who will encourage, renew and revive your unwell soul.

But in the meantime, take the time to rest.

Resting is biblical. Resting is spiritual. It’s okay to stop and take a break. God wants you to, so go ahead and rest.

Dear God, I want to take the time to slow down and rest. Help me to say no and learn to find space in my week to sit before you and stop and pause. Give me the strength to move forward with your call in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.