Browsing Tag

rest

5 Lies That Keep You Stuck on the “Busy and Stressed” Treadmill—and How to Break Free

Have you ever been so tired you couldn’t think straight?

One evening, I made spaghetti and put the leftovers in the cupboard, not the fridge! I shook my head and laughed. What am I doing?

I was exhausted.

The past few months had been a whirlwind, working full-time while writing a book and leading a Bible study and taking care of my own life! Most nights, I was up late doing “one more thing” before bed, wondering why the days were so long and the nights so short.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed and stressed? It seems that we are a generation of busy people, working hard but hardly living.

Getting enough rest, real replenishing rest, is often at the bottom of our priority list. Here’s the good news: REST is not a four-letter word. Well, technically it is, but you know what I mean. It’s a word to value, not avoid.

Why Don’t We Value Rest?
We all have our reasons for not taking breaks or getting real rest. Some people stay busy all the time in order to avoid emotional pain. Others are constantly active because they are trying to please others, or think it’s a badge of honor among their peers.

To be sure, there are busy seasons of life—like tax time for accountants—but it’s a season. And seasons change.

Or do they?

Is there a better way to find a better life? I believe so.

Addressing the Lies
There is a time for work, for sure. God uniquely crafted each of us with talents and abilities to make a contribution in life. But there is also a time to cease from labor—in the workplace and in the home place.

Being driven is one thing, but being a slave to work—bound by guilt and condemnation or wearing the shackles of perfectionism or people pleasing—is bondage. Unknowingly, you are buying into the lies of a culture that devalue silence and stillness, rest and reflection.

“The lie the taskmasters want you to swallow is that you cannot rest until your work’s all done, and done better than you’re currently doing it,” says Mark Buchanan in The Rest of God.

“But the truth is,” he continues, “the work’s never done, and never done quite right. It’s always more than you can finish and less than you had hope for.”

So, if we address some of the lies and release them, then physical rest and peace—soul rest—can replace worry, fear and trying to control everything around you. And things can begin to change.

But, I Don’t Have Time to Rest!
Let’s look at some of the false beliefs—lies, in fact—that may be keeping you from getting the rest you need and having the life you truly want.

Read each lie listed here and talk to God in prayer about what’s keeping you from real and replenishing rest.

1) Lie: I can do everything and do it all on my own.
2) Lie: Rest is a luxury for a privileged few; not for me.
3) Lie: I don’t deserve to rest.
4) Lie: Rest is a waste of time
5) Life: If I rest, I won’t get it all done.

Rest is essential to a physically and emotionally healthy life. In trying to gain more in life by doing more, we often fail to realize what is lost in the process. In the demanding pace of modern life, we may…

Lose perspective,
Forget things,
Misplace our peace of mind,
Hurt those we love, or
Feel far away and disconnected from God.

Often, we lose heart.

And we need to find it again.

The truth is, you don’t have to do everything for everyone. And do it all by yourself. You’re not a “Junior Jesus” and you don’t have to save the world. In fact, Jesus himself already did that for us.

Rest is God’s idea. Check out Genesis 2. It’s a gift, and you don’t have to earn it.

Taking time renew your weary self is time well spent. It’s an investment that will pay off physically, mentally, relationally and more because you will be a better you, for others and for yourself.

A major heart shift happens when we realize that life is about God’s plan, His story playing out. He will enable us to get done what He wants accomplished each day when we are surrendered and willing.

Talk to God. Ask Him to help you realign your priorities and to show you how to incorporate rest into each day of your life. It could be in the form of a brief walk. Or a nap. Or lingering over a cup of coffee or tea with a friend who fills you up, not depletes you. Or a weekend away. Maybe you need a real vacation, or a spiritual retreat.

Replenishing rest looks different for everyone.

Release your worries and cares to God. Let Him be the architect of your life and your time. Make prayer a priority.

Your days may be full, but your heart doesn’t need to be empty or anxious.

Here’s to a new—and better—way of living!

When You’re Busy and Stressed: Finding Replenishing Rest

We are a generation of busy people—working hard but hardly living. Getting enough rest—like real, replenishing rest—is often at the bottom of our priority list.

But, why?

We all have our reasons we don’t make rest a priority. Some are self-imposed, like people who stay continually busy in order to avoid pain and disappointment.

Others live a life of constant motion because they’re trying to please others or keep up appearances.

Of course there are busy seasons in life, like a couple with a newborn baby, or an accountant during tax time. But for some, being busy all the time seems to be a badge of honor.

In the exhaustion of daily living, we often complain, “There’s so much to do, and never enough time” instead of saying a quiet prayer, “Lord, I am so tired. Please help me.”

Being driven is one thing, being a slave to what you do—bound to guilt, condemnation, perfectionism or people pleasing—is bondage. Unknowingly, you are living a lie.

“The lie the taskmasters want you to swallow is that you cannot rest until your work’s all done, and done better than you’re currently doing it,” said Mark Buchanan in The Rest of God. “But the truth is, the work’s never done, and never done quite right. It’s always more than you can finish and less than you had hoped for.

If we address some of the lies, and release them, then physical rest and inner peace—soul rest—can replace worry and fear, and things can begin to change.

There is a better way to find a better life. Take a look at some of the lies we believe about rest, and consider what you want to change in your own life:

• LIE: I can do everything, and do it all on my own. This is the person who believes she has to make it all happen, to do everything for everyone and do it all by herself. Some may call her a martyr; others may call her a control freak. She believes her way is the “right” way or she feels she must save the world. The truth is we are sorely deceived when we think are a Junior Jesus. We don’t save the world; He already did that for us.

• LIE: I feel guilty when I rest. I used to think rest was a luxury for a privileged few. It was a time in my life when I was short on funds and working three jobs just to stay afloat. It didn’t seem fair. Then, I learned that I had a right to rest. In fact, rest was God’s idea! (Genesis 2:1-3)

• LIE: I don’t deserve to rest. Rest is a gift. You don’t earn it. A slave driver mentality is not from God but the enemy, the one who is out to destroy you. The truth is, when you come to know Christ you are set free (John 8:36).

• LIE: Rest is a waste of time. In reality, taking time to renew your weary self is time well spent. It’s an investment that will pay off physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally because you will be a better you—for others and for yourself. Stopping periodically to get refreshed ultimately helps you get the job done more effectively.

• LIE: If I rest, I won’t get it all done. That goes back to the fundamental question of whose agenda you are following. A major heart shift happens when we begin to realize that life is about God’s plan, His story. We live for God, not for ourselves. He will enable us to get done what He wants accomplished each day when we are surrendered and willing.

Perhaps we don’t value rest because we’ve forgotten what it means. Our perception may be skewed by a culture that praises busyness and devalues silence, stillness, and reflection.

Rest brings margin to your life, spaces that allow you to replenish and restore beauty and balance. Without it, life is an endless cycle of work, chores and errands.

And that’s not what God intended.

Joy, peace, fun and play are essential parts of life, too.

Replenishing rest looks different for everyone.

Whether you linger over a cup of tea with a friend, take a twenty-minute nap or a one-minute vacation gazing at the Hawaiian beaches on your wall calendar, think about how you can get refueled in your life.

Because when we’re well-rested, we are better equipped to serve God and others, and enjoy our lives.

You were never meant to do life all on your own, or carry the weight of the world like boulders in a backpack. When you release your worries to God, you’re saying that you trust Him.

Instead of being anxious, you can rely on the fact that God said He would take care of all your needs.

God is always at work, even when you’re asleep. When you are feeling overwhelmed, say to yourself, “I cannot, but God can.”

God can do anything; nothing is too hard for Him, even restoring peace to your whirlwind life.

God gives you permission to rest. In fact, it was His idea from the beginning. In the first book of the Bible, Genesis, we learn that God created the heavens and earth “all in their vast array.”

Imagine the sheer delight of God as master artist and architect, forming star-studded galaxies, planets than spin, and gravity to tether us all to Earth.

After He created , He rested (whatever that looks like for God), and gave us a pattern to follow for our own lives.

Your days may be full, but your heart doesn’t have to be empty or anxious. Pray and release your cares, connect with God, and allow Him to work through you.

Then enjoy the love and peace, freedom and power that are yours.

“Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.”

(Psalm 62:5)

Tired? Stressed? 5 Lies Keeping You from Real Rest

Are you tired and stressed from your busy and hectic life? Do you often feel like there’s too much to do and never enough time?

Indeed, we are a generation of busy people; we’re working hard but hardly living.

To be sure, there is a time to work. But there is also a time to cease from our labor. Yet, some people can’t seem to slow down the insane pace of their lives. They feel guilty when they rest. They sense the impending disapproval of others if things aren’t perfect.

Isn’t there a better way to find a better life?

Yes.

Absolutely.

It begins with acknowledging the false beliefs that keep us stuck on a hamster wheel of perpetual motion.

Here’s what I’ve learned. By addressing the lies we believe and replacing them with God’s truth and physical rest, things can begin to change.

Right thoughts lead to right actions—and a better, healthier way of living.

Here are five lies we tell ourselves about getting the rest we need:

1) LIE: I can do everything, and do it all on my own. This is the person who believes she has to make it all happen. It’s the lie of “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” Some may call her a martyr; others may call her a control freak. Either way, she believes she must save the world.

2) LIE: I feel guilty when I rest. I used to think rest was a luxury for a privileged few. It was a time in my life when I was short on funds and working three jobs just to stay afloat. Then learned that rest was God’s idea! (Genesis 2:1-3) Even he rested from creating the world.

3) LIE: I don’t deserve to rest. Rest is a gift. You don’t earn it. Plus, you were never meant to do life all on your own, or carry the weight of the world like boulders in a backpack. To rest is to trust God. When you release your worries to God, you’re saying that you trust He will take care of it.

4) LIE: Rest is a waste of time. In reality, taking time to renew your weary self is time well spent. It’s an investment that will pay off physically, mentally, emotionally, and relationally because you will be a better you—for others and for yourself. Stopping periodically to get refreshed ultimately helps you get the job done more effectively.

5) LIE: If I rest, I won’t get it all done. That goes back to the fundamental question of whose agenda you are following. A major heart shift happens when we begin to realize that life is about God’s plan, not ours. We live for God, not for ourselves. He will empower you to get done what He wants accomplished each day. Our job is to be surrendered and willing to follow.

In a culture that praises busyness and devalues silence and reflection, we need to remember that rest brings margin to life. It creates essential spaces that allow us to replenish and restore beauty and balance.

Without rest, life is an endless cycle of work, chores, and errands. And that’s not what God intended. Rest, connection, fun, and play are essential parts of life, too.

Your days may be full, but your heart doesn’t have to be empty.

Think about how you can get refueled in your life. Pray about it. Ask God to help you find margin in your life. Ask others for help. Learn to delegate. Live by your priorities not just by the urgency of the chaos around you.

Remember, you don’t have to be a “Junior Jesus.” We already have a Savior of the world. And he is just a prayer away to help you.

As you connect with God and allow Him to work through you, you’ll begin to release worry, fear and stress and begin to enjoy the freedom and peace that are yours through God’s power at work in you.

Bottom line: When you’re well-rested, you are better equipped to serve God and others, and truly enjoy your life.