Your body, His temple: Rest

Genesis 2:2 – “On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work.” (NLT)‬‬

The world becoming a global village has also created a climate that is highly productivity-inclined. In making our mark on the land the Lord has placed our feet on, I would like to ask you: are you taking care of the vehicle the Lord has placed you in? In this journey of becoming, there is a lot of work to do. You need to take that course, serve, water those relationships, and complete that challenge. However, remember that your body is the vehicle you have been blessed with. Without proper maintenance and refueling when needed, the assignment cannot be completed, or cannot be properly completed, by the vehicle.

I recently learned that rest is not always the absence of work, nor is it always the reward of hard work, as most of us are used to. Rest is an essential state of peace and harmony between your body and mind. Rest is a generator of energy needed for productivity. And so I ask again, what is the state of your physical body? Nowadays, terms like lower back pain, transient headaches, constant fatigue, and burnout are loosely thrown around. Say this out loud: “It is not God’s will for me to be in pain.” The aforementioned are but a few signs of an unrested body.

It has been scientifically proven that a lack of rest leads to cognitive decline (remember when you were looking for your keys while they were in your hands), emotional instability (the times you were suddenly irritable), and cardiovascular strain, to name a few. The way these show up is often in subtle ways that we neglect. From the above, you can infer that rest is not just for our physical bodies. 

Matthew 11:28  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV)‬‬

A hymn I love to sing is “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” by Joseph M. Scriven, which states my message beautifully:

“… Oh, what peace we often forfeit!
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer…”

Remember when I said rest is about peace and harmony between your body and mind? These lyrics encapsulate the state of restlessness some of us face. The pain, grief, and anguish you are holding on to may be delaying your becoming. It would be insensitive of me to say “let it go,” so with love I would say: give it to Jesus by talking to Him and listening to Him. Your mind needs rest from it all. 

A few ways to incorporate rest include constantly talking to God, scheduling breaks, journaling, spending time with your community, setting digital boundaries, prioritizing sleep, and engaging in low-effort hobbies. Again, rest is not the absence of work. It might not be as easy as it sounds, but please remember that you can only love your neighbor as yourself, and rest is an act of love.

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