In our modern world, everything moves at the speed of light. We can pull up information on our phones with a few clicks, make new connections by tapping a button, and learn new concepts through online YouTube videos or Zoom meetings (even the app is called Zoom).

Part of these new innovations are helpful — we can learn new things faster, quickly send information to others, and reach more people with our voices and messages. But there are always pro’s and con’s to everything, and our racing modern pace is no exception.

Hard work, discipline, and creation are all valuable, important things that God wants us to pursue. But we were never meant to compare ourselves to other people’s success, run ourselves into the ground to check off a few more things of our to-do lists, or give into the pressure of reading 5 more books than our friends (because if they can read 100 books in a year, I can read 105.)

Our human bodies need water, food, oxygen, and rest in order to healthily function and grow. Those needs and limitations aren’t something we need to be ashamed of, contrary to the culture’s praise of accomplishing a hundred things at once. God created us to need things like sleep and breaks, and we work best when we focus on one or a few things at a time rather than becoming serial multi-taskers.

God is the only one in the universe who doesn’t need to recharge or take breaks, as I wrote in Our God Never Sleeps. But even He rested on the 7th day of creation after He called everything into being — and He did it as an example for us.

“Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” — Genesis 2:1-3

But physically taking a nap or getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night isn’t the only way to rest. Oftentimes those kinds of rest are incredibly helpful to us, but other times what we need is to rest in other ways: step away from your stress-inducing planner and go read outside instead, go out for ice cream with friends and put your work deadline out of your mind, or take time to be with your kids instead of rushing to finish your meal plan for the next three weeks.

Everyone has different needs and personalities, which affects what kind of things, places and experiences give you rest. But if you find yourself feeling tired or even exhausted, and a simple nap or few extra hours of sleep doesn’t seem to help, try to figure out what’s stressing you out or “keeping you up at night”. Maybe reading a book would help, or maybe you need to watch your favorite TV show; maybe the saltwater and quiet of the beach would relax you, or maybe you need to go to your favorite local coffee shop with the loud machinery and yelling baristas.

God understands your body, stressors, and your environment better than you do, and He wants to hear all your concerns, dreams, ideas, and your pain. Whatever brings you the most rest and relaxation, remember that you can always find rest in Him — regardless of your emotions or circumstances.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30

“… casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.” — 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV)