I know we’ve all been there…those days or weeks where we can hardly seem to catch up with ourselves. There are so many activities, work, school, practices, errands and chores that we can barely fit them all in. These weeks sometimes turn into months which turn into years, and before we know it time is flying by. This was one of those weeks for me. Every day of the week was filled with special tasks that needed to be completed that day, catching up on schoolwork with my daughter, going on field trips, working at my store and just trying to keep up with the everyday household chores. Most every day this week, my husband was also away working, leaving me to complete all of these tasks on my own. Most nights I was not even sitting down to relax until about 10 or 11 at night.

Now, I want to clarify something right off the bat. This is not a whining or complaining fest for me. Every single one of the activities that I am involved in holds a special place in my heart. If it didn’t I wouldn’t be doing it. Also, in no way am I resentful to my husband for being gone all day working. I know he works very hard to provide for his family, and for that I am eternally grateful. Now, with that off of my chest, let me just say that even though I love everything that I do, weeks and days like this are still completely exhausting! I am often left with feelings of guilt and regret that I didn’t get everything done that week. I’m not going to lie, my house seems to be in a constant state of disarray, and I seem to be fitting in chores like laundry in between all of the other activities I have going on. In fact, I am writing this blog right now while I am working at my store in between customers!

I know I am not alone in this respect. I know so many of you out there are feeling exactly how I feel. I have trouble keeping up with my one kid, and I know so many parents going through the same with many more kids! This situation can apply to you even if you don’t have kids or your kids are grown. We often jam pack our lives with so much stuff that we forget to take the time to rest both our bodies and souls. I am certainly guilty of this myself. Even when I have a day with no pressing obligations, I am always thinking of what I need to get done and how I can fill my day. I often forget to take time out to rest. Sometimes just taking a half hour nap leaves me feeling guilty, but this is not how God wants us to live.

Genesis 2:2 says, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” In Exodus chapter 20, God also gave us this commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.”

God knew from the very beginning of creation the importance of rest. That is why he set aside a special time each week for us to rest and regain strength. We should be taking advantage of this time! God knows that life on this earth is tiresome. Not only do our bodies get physically tired, but our spirits grow tired as well. The pressure of this life wears on us every day. We are constantly bombarded with reminders of all the bad in this world. Through television and now social media, we have 24 hour access to all these stressors that wear us down. Whether it’s hearing about another war in some part of the world or another fatal mass shooting, our souls grow weary. We are also constantly reminded through social media that we are “not good enough”. We see our peers taking extravagant vacations or boasting about all the new things they just bought for themselves, or about how perfect their lives are, and we tend to compare ourselves to them. This too beats down our spirits.

Although I’d like to say that there’s a perfect answer on how to overcome all of these troubles, I cannot. There is, however, something that comes pretty darn close. When we take the rest we need in God, we can recharge our bodies and souls to prepare for what is to come.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

So what do we need to do? Well, the first step is to take time out for yourself to rest. What this looks like for every person is different. Some people may be able to take a whole day to rest. Others may find it more beneficial to take a certain amount of time out of every day. I challenge you to do this. Force yourself to slow down.  Most of those things on your list can wait until later.

Here are some examples of things you can do:

• Spend time in prayer and devotion. Read scripture. Take time to reconnect with God.
• Take a nap. Yes, it’s ok to rest your body!
• Take time to go outside and enjoy nature. This could be taking a walk or simply just sitting outside and soaking up the sights and sounds.
• Spend quality time with family or friends. Play a game or enjoy other activities together.
• Read a book.
• Call a friend or relative to catch up.

These are just some examples of things we can do to recharge ourselves. Even just doing some of these activities for a half hour or hour a day can give our bodies the boost we need to keep on going. You’d be surprised at the difference it will make in your life!

Think of this analogy. Have you ever had an injury or surgery? When you did, you probably had strict doctor’s orders to stay off your feet and rest. What happened if you got impatient and decided to ignore the doctor’s orders? You probably ended up taking longer to recover, or injured yourself even further. Well, think of God as our doctor, and by giving us the Sabbath, he is ordering us to take time to rest every week. What happens when we ignore God’s order? We grow weary in body and soul. We get so burnt out on everything that it is sometimes hard to go on. Think of how much better our lives can be if we listen to the ultimate healer’s advice!

Even Jesus had to take time out of his Earthly life to rest. When Jesus would get tired and overwhelmed from his ministry here on Earth, he would often seek out places to go to be at peace. Whether it was going out on a boat with his disciples or going to the garden alone to pray, he would seek refuge. He knew that he couldn’t do his best work if he wasn’t rested. He also knew that talking to his heavenly Father would bring him peace. We should follow the example of Jesus.

So this is what I have to say to all of you out there who feel weary or not good enough. First of all, know that you are good enough! All you parents who are overwhelmed with the busyness of life, God sees you! He cares about you. He wants you to find rest in him. Don’t worry about how messy your house is or how many dishes are left in the sink. What matters most is the love and devotion and faith that you show to your family. When your kids are grown, they won’t remember how many toys were left on the floor or how often you ran the vacuum. What they will remember is how you treated them and how you showed them your love. God sees you trying. You are not a failure in his eyes.

I challenge you this week to take time out for yourself to rest, whatever that looks like to you. Most importantly, do not make yourself feel guilty for taking this time. God wants this for you! The more you practice this, the lighter your load will be.

Blessings on your week!