Have We Forgotten How to Rest?

When was the last time you did absolutely nothing... and didn't feel guilty about it?

In this episode of FaithFuel, Bob Shaw talks about rest, Sabbath, and why so many people struggle to slow down.

Modern life often rewards constant activity, productivity, and busyness. But from the very beginning, God built rest into the rhythm of life.

Using Mark 2:27, Bob discusses God's purpose for Sabbath, the difference between laziness and healthy rest, and why rest is a gift rather than a burden.

Whether your idea of rest is reading, hiking, yard work, spending time with family, playing video games, or simply taking a nap, this devotional encourages you to make room for the kind of rest God designed you to need.

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Transcript

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When was the last time you did absolutely nothing and didn't feel guilty about it? I'm Bob Shaw, and this is Faith Fuel. I'm a night owl by nature. Unfortunately, my alarm clock doesn't care. Every weekday morning, it goes off at 3.20. Even on a good night, I might not fall asleep until around 10.30. You don't have to be a math genius to realize that's not a lot of sleep. If I wanted a full eight hours every night, I'd have to be asleep somewhere around 7.20 in the evening. Did I mention I'm a night owl? Yeah, so that's not happening. So after my radio show, I usually take a nap. It helps. But it's not quite the same as getting a solid night's sleep. It's probably the reason this has been on my mind lately. It seems like everybody is tired, whether it's work, family responsibilities, appointments, whatever. There's always something else that needs our attention. And before you know it, exhaustion starts to feel normal. Maybe that's why so many of us resist rest. Being tired feels oddly productive. Rest can feel unproductive, but God seems to see things differently. What's interesting is that God built rest into life from the very beginning. In fact, he set the example himself. Genesis tells us that God rested on the seventh day. Now I don't think he was tired. He was establishing a pattern for us. Mark two, verse twenty seven. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. In other words, rest wasn't created to make life harder. It was given as a gift, a reminder that we're human. Believe it or not, the world keeps turning even when we stop working for a while. So is there a particular day we should observe the Sabbath? Some people think so, but I don't. I think it should be wherever it fits best in your life. Again, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. But setting that aside, the bigger point is God designed us with limits. We need rest. What does rest look like? Well, for me, that might be sitting at home with a book, or playing a video game, or working in the yard. For somebody else, it might be hiking, fishing, or being with family, or taking a nap. The activity isn't really the point. The question is whether we're making room to rest, to slow down, to recharge, and to spend time with God. Rest isn't laziness, and it isn't wasted time. It can be an act of trust. It's choosing to believe that God is still in control, even when we're not accomplishing something. Lord, thank you for creating us with limits. Thank you for giving us rest as a gift. Help us make room for it in our lives, and help us trust you enough to step away from the constant pressure to keep going. In Jesus' name. Amen. More likely than not, you're tired today. Well, maybe this is your reminder that rest isn't something you have to earn, it's something God designed you to need. And if you're enjoying Faith Fuel, be sure to follow the podcast so you never miss a new devotional. I'm Bob Shaw. Peace and joy.