The Price Tag of Rest

By Brenda Jank

Note: This post is Post #2 of our original series on rest and restoration. We are reposting some of our favorite articles because we believe they’re just as important today as ever. We hope you’re challenged to think of rest in a fresh, new way and will invite others to join in.

There is a price to be paid for our chronic exhaustion. For some people, it’s apparent in the here and now: fleeting joy, fragmented relationships. Sometimes it comes and goes: bouts of sleepless nights, depression, illness. Some people seemingly sail through their overload, but in the end 5, 15, or 30 years are extracted from their lives.

What’s the cost of your overload?

There is a price to be paid for our exhaustion.
There is a price to be paid for our restoration.
Which one are you more willing to pay?

Rest does not come free.
It requires a radical revision of thoughts, beliefs, values, and identity. It demands an alteration of how life unfolds. The cost is high. It’s painful to face the reality of our own limits. It’s brutal to disappoint others and perhaps, even more brutal to disappoint ourselves. But the consequences of not attending to our basic needs for rest are staggering. The rewards? They are out of this world. Which will it be for you? The consequences or the rewards?

The first step I’d like you to consider is taking a simple, 6-Question Inventory. James A. Garfield once said, “The truth will set you free, but first it might make you miserable.” Sometimes ‘miserable’ is the wake-up call we require.

Inventory
Take the inventory below or take it on our website here.

1.  ____ In the last 4 weeks I’ve enjoyed 4 days off – days that were refreshing and   care-free . . . with minimal “work” around the house.
2. ____ This last week I’ve had five nights of 7-8 hours of sleep.
3. ____ I experience the Presence of God on a regular basis in personal devotions. (I spend as much time talking to God, as I do about God each week.)
4. ____ I took a full-day of personal retreat in the last 6 months.
5. ____ I enjoyed 4 evenings this last week with no out-of-the-home obligations.
6. ____ I took all my vacation time last year.
   
   ____ Total check marks

Scores

Score: 0-3 You are running on the fumes of an empty tank whether you realize it or not. There’s a better way. It’s found in the rhythm – run hard. rest well. A paradigm shift must take place in your heart. Rest is not a sign of weakness. It is a gift of God, a grace, a rhythm of life for those who surrender all – including the time it takes to rest. The vibrancy of your ministry, the well-being of your soul, and the health of your family depend on it.

Score: 4 You are familiar with rejuvenating aspects of rest and renewal (well done good and faithful servant!), but gaps remain. You know how to run hard and you are aware of what it means to rest well. Now take a look at your physical, emotional, spiritual, and relational reserves. What are your strengths? Where can you improve? Expand your horizons. What needs attention? Explore how “resting well” will bring new realms of vibrancy to an area where you’re serving with a self-imposed limp.

Score: 5-6 Ah! The life-giving rhythms of rest are established in your life. You have adopted God’s ways and not the world’s. The fruit of well-being is yours to enjoy – and pass along to others. Stay the course. Your life is a walking billboard. Be intentional about sharing the story of your journey into the rhythms of rest. You have a remarkable opportunity to light the way.

Call to Action
Rest. Do you need it? Do you want it? Are you willing to pay the price it demands?
This week, set aside a block of one to three hours to – do no work. Plan for it. Prioritize it. Guard it. The only requirement of this time is to do something that brings delight. Splurge on a special cup of coffee. Have lunch with a friend. Make a date with your pillow. Get outside. Turn off your phone. Release yourself from all demands. Step into this time completely, utterly guilt-free. Why?
Because rest is holy.
The first thing God called holy was not himself, the act of worship, or the splendor of creation. The first thing God called holy was time set apart to rest (Genesis 2:3).
When I choose to rest, I am participating in what God calls holy.
Rest.
Taste and see.
Do you need it? Do you want it? Are you willing to engage?

Did you like this post?  
Visit the first blog post by clicking here 
Take note of the date. Feel free to visit our Blog Page to explore the entire series.  

Would you like to explore the series at your own pace?
Consider purchasing Vantage Point: A New View of Rest, Rhythm, and the Work of God for yourself or others. 7,000 copies are transforming lives all around the world. Click here to learn of purchasing possibilities.

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Brenda Jank and the Run Hard. Rest Well team. are thought leaders in the arena of Restorative Wellness. Find additional resources at www.RunHardRestWell.org. Contact us at: brenda@runhardrestwell.org

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