Did you know that one third of Americans are not getting the recommended at least seven hours of sleep on a regular basis (source: CDC) and that more than half of American workers (55%) left vacation days unused in 2015 (source: Project Time Off)? It appears that, for the average American, getting adequate sleep and relaxation is a thing of the past!
Why do we have such a resistance to disconnecting and resting when we serve a God who places enough value on rest to incorporate it into His creation and His commandments? We all know that sleep and rest are important so why do we have such a resistance to the practice of disconnecting and resting? Could it be because rest is so closely connected to trust? Think about it – when we rest, we are put into a state of being both vulnerable and unproductive. We are vulnerable because we are unaware and disconnected from what is going on around us. This vulnerability puts us at risk of being harmed or of missing something important, such as an important piece of information or an important opportunity. We are unproductive because we are not engaged in conscious activity to move us forward in our daily tasks and long-term goals. As Christians, we want to trust, but if we have internal beliefs that our protection, advancement, success, provision and ultimately our value depend on our efforts alone, we may very well have hard time surrendering ourselves to rest.
Perhaps this is why, according to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, busyness (being overworked and lacking leisure time) has replaced conspicuous consumption as the primary sign of status in our culture. According to one of the study authors, busyness is a way to signal importance or value and is related to the perception that we have something to offer that is desired and in demand. In other words, the busy person is wanted – they bring valuable assets to the table.
In 2013, the Oxford English dictionary added a new entry called FOMO (fear of missing out) which is defined as “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere…” The constant use of electronic devices that make us available and keep us connected 24/7 gives the perception that we are important because we are “in the know” with up-to-date information and influential people. In other words, the connected person is wanted – they bring valuable assets to the table.
If we must depend on ourselves for our own protection, provision and advancement and if staying busy and connected are ways that we accomplish that then we will have a very hard time laying down those things in order to rest. And if our value is so closely related to our activity, then we will have a hard time resting because, in our eyes, not much activity is happening during times of sleep and rest.
Certainly there may be medical reasons why a person may struggle to get adequate sleep or rest. Medications, hormone imbalances and some illnesses can affect this and those can be addressed with your professional health care provider. But I would bet that most of us, Christians included, have trouble surrendering to rest because of what is going on in our mind – what we are telling ourselves about who we are and who God is. For those Christians who struggle to place value on and make a regular habit of rest (I include myself in that group), I would suggest that there are two major truths to reflect upon that may be helpful:
God’s ways are not our ways! What to human eyes looks like a time of vulnerability and inactivity is actually a time when God does some of His most productive work in our lives!
Physical/Mental Refreshment: These times of rest keep us from becoming depleted and they are a time of refreshment. And the value of rest is displayed both in God’s creation and in His word. We observe that seasons of inactivity (winter) and growth (spring). Farmers know that a time of letting the soil rest will produce a greater harvest in the future. We observe that our bodies require sleep and are busy repairing and replenishing our cells so that we can function optimally the next day. We’ve all experienced that horrible feeling of trying to function in the world when we have not gotten adequate rest. Sleep deprivation is even considered to be an interrogation technique! And so, God in His Word, reminds us to rest by example (Genesis 2:2) and command (Exodus 20: 8-11).
Spiritual Work: God does some of His best spiritual work during times of rest and inactivity. Moses had 40 years on the backside of the desert where it appeared that his dream to help his Hebrew brothers and sisters was dead. Yet this time prepared Moses to fulfill God’s plan and his desire (Acts 7:20-36). God called out to Samuel as he slept (1 Samuel 3). God moved His plans for Joseph forward through Pharaoh as he was sleeping (Genesis 41)!
We can sleep because God doesn’t sleep! Read Psalm 21…He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel with neither slumber nor sleep. (vs 3,4). As we build, maintain and advance the God-given kingdoms of our lives, we may have many problems, many fears and many strong desires and, while we sleep, He is awake and watching over all of them! As Christians, we know that it is not all up to us. We depend on God for our protection, provision, advancement and success of our work and the assurance of our value as His child. Here’s the great news – our Father who we depend on for all these things does not sleep or slumber! He’s awake and He’s on it! Our job simply is to trust.
As Christians, will be trust God enough to surrender to rest? Will we believe that the advancement of God’s plans in our lives is not solely dependent upon our activity? Will be trust that God is working during our times of vulnerability and inactivity? Will we trust that the God we depend on is awake and aware and active regarding the things that are important to us?
To sleep is to surrender! To rest is to replenish!
Why do we have such a resistance to disconnecting and resting when we serve a God who places enough value on rest to incorporate it into His creation and His commandments? We all know that sleep and rest are important so why do we have such a resistance to the practice of disconnecting and resting? Could it be because rest is so closely connected to trust? Think about it – when we rest, we are put into a state of being both vulnerable and unproductive. We are vulnerable because we are unaware and disconnected from what is going on around us. This vulnerability puts us at risk of being harmed or of missing something important, such as an important piece of information or an important opportunity. We are unproductive because we are not engaged in conscious activity to move us forward in our daily tasks and long-term goals. As Christians, we want to trust, but if we have internal beliefs that our protection, advancement, success, provision and ultimately our value depend on our efforts alone, we may very well have hard time surrendering ourselves to rest.
Perhaps this is why, according to a study in the Journal of Consumer Research, busyness (being overworked and lacking leisure time) has replaced conspicuous consumption as the primary sign of status in our culture. According to one of the study authors, busyness is a way to signal importance or value and is related to the perception that we have something to offer that is desired and in demand. In other words, the busy person is wanted – they bring valuable assets to the table.
In 2013, the Oxford English dictionary added a new entry called FOMO (fear of missing out) which is defined as “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere…” The constant use of electronic devices that make us available and keep us connected 24/7 gives the perception that we are important because we are “in the know” with up-to-date information and influential people. In other words, the connected person is wanted – they bring valuable assets to the table.
If we must depend on ourselves for our own protection, provision and advancement and if staying busy and connected are ways that we accomplish that then we will have a very hard time laying down those things in order to rest. And if our value is so closely related to our activity, then we will have a hard time resting because, in our eyes, not much activity is happening during times of sleep and rest.
Certainly there may be medical reasons why a person may struggle to get adequate sleep or rest. Medications, hormone imbalances and some illnesses can affect this and those can be addressed with your professional health care provider. But I would bet that most of us, Christians included, have trouble surrendering to rest because of what is going on in our mind – what we are telling ourselves about who we are and who God is. For those Christians who struggle to place value on and make a regular habit of rest (I include myself in that group), I would suggest that there are two major truths to reflect upon that may be helpful:
God’s ways are not our ways! What to human eyes looks like a time of vulnerability and inactivity is actually a time when God does some of His most productive work in our lives!
Physical/Mental Refreshment: These times of rest keep us from becoming depleted and they are a time of refreshment. And the value of rest is displayed both in God’s creation and in His word. We observe that seasons of inactivity (winter) and growth (spring). Farmers know that a time of letting the soil rest will produce a greater harvest in the future. We observe that our bodies require sleep and are busy repairing and replenishing our cells so that we can function optimally the next day. We’ve all experienced that horrible feeling of trying to function in the world when we have not gotten adequate rest. Sleep deprivation is even considered to be an interrogation technique! And so, God in His Word, reminds us to rest by example (Genesis 2:2) and command (Exodus 20: 8-11).
Spiritual Work: God does some of His best spiritual work during times of rest and inactivity. Moses had 40 years on the backside of the desert where it appeared that his dream to help his Hebrew brothers and sisters was dead. Yet this time prepared Moses to fulfill God’s plan and his desire (Acts 7:20-36). God called out to Samuel as he slept (1 Samuel 3). God moved His plans for Joseph forward through Pharaoh as he was sleeping (Genesis 41)!
We can sleep because God doesn’t sleep! Read Psalm 21…He will not let your foot slip – he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel with neither slumber nor sleep. (vs 3,4). As we build, maintain and advance the God-given kingdoms of our lives, we may have many problems, many fears and many strong desires and, while we sleep, He is awake and watching over all of them! As Christians, we know that it is not all up to us. We depend on God for our protection, provision, advancement and success of our work and the assurance of our value as His child. Here’s the great news – our Father who we depend on for all these things does not sleep or slumber! He’s awake and He’s on it! Our job simply is to trust.
As Christians, will be trust God enough to surrender to rest? Will we believe that the advancement of God’s plans in our lives is not solely dependent upon our activity? Will be trust that God is working during our times of vulnerability and inactivity? Will we trust that the God we depend on is awake and aware and active regarding the things that are important to us?
To sleep is to surrender! To rest is to replenish!