Choose To Rest: 5 Rigorous Forms of Rest
Amidst the noise and hustle and bustle of daily duties–cooking, laundry, chauffeur–a fleeting thought enters my mind: choose to rest. The thought envelops me as I drift slowly to my bedroom, closing the door behind me. Sadly, it’s taken me six weeks to find the time to sit in my new bedroom chair. Today, I determined, was to be that day.
Slowly, like a crisp fall leaf floating from tree to ground, I settle, nice and cozy, into the amaranthine-colored leather chair. With feet propped up and windows open, I take a moment to relish the feel of the soft breeze on my skin, the sound of rain filtering through the curtains. Finally, I open the pages of a magazine that has, for months, been patiently waiting on my nightstand.
Don’t miss the list of 70+ Hygge Hobbies for Women at the end of the post
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Bondage and Enslavement
Ironically, the first article in the magazine is titled “Rest”.
Instantly overcome by the words, I read:
“Where God was leading His people from is just as important as where God was leading them to.
He took them to the road that led to the Promised Land after he led them out of bondage in Egypt.
What was their bondage?
Writer Mary Gallagher explains: “It was work, toil, the inability to rest, and the enslavement to a kingdom that was not God’s.”
Our Soul Crushing Battle Cry
In Galatians 3:1, the Apostle Paul refers to being deceived as being “bewitched”.
“Oh foolish [people], who hath bewitched you…?“
Has society bewitched us into believing that our success, value, and salvation will come through the busyness of our schedules?
“We will do it all!” is our battle cry as we rush out into the world, desperate and determined, only to return home at the end of each day, downhearted and defeated. For the busyness of the world will never be able to supply our souls with that which they most need—rest.
When our schedules consume us, we die to the things of the Spirit.
“Yes, we work, and we work hard because we love our families and we love to serve, but what if we rested as hard as we work?” — Mary Gallagher
Taking a Counter-Cultural Approach
In the article, Mary Gallagher shares that the number seven, which scripture uses to mark both the Sabbath Day and Sabbath Year, is “associated with a counter-cultural slowing and a rigorous form of resting.” — Alicia Britt Chole, The Sacred Slow: A Holy Departure From Fast Faith
A rigorous form of resting.
It sounds like an oxymoron, and it is because it is counter-cultural.
What does it mean to rest rigorously? I ask myself, as I gaze out the window at the trees swaying softly in the breeze, their leaves covered with dewy raindrops.
Suddenly, I think I begin to understand.
Pointing Ourselves in the Right Direction
Nature has a way of slowing us down,
of reminding us of the seasons of life,
of putting things into perspective.
Yes, rigorous resting involves Sabbath Day rest and worship, but it also includes moments in our everyday lives: moments when we choose to pause long enough to sit in our bedroom chair, to read an uplifting article, to gaze out the window as we reflect on what matters most.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1
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5 Rigorous Forms of Rest
Busy lives call for moments of rest. Here are five ways to add rigorous forms of rest to your daily routine:
Choose to rest by caring for your mental health
Daily exercise is important. Take a few minutes to stretch your muscles. Ride your bike to the park with your children. Spend the afternoon gardening. These forms of exercise can help to refresh the body and regulate mental health imbalances. What form of exercise do you find most refreshing?
Adequate sleep is essential to one’s mental health. Benjamin Franklin taught the well-known refrain: ‘Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.’ How might you improve your sleep schedule?
Nutritious food is vital. Reducing processed foods, while incorporating more leafy greens and other vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, berries, nuts, beans, and olive oil, will create a healthy foundation on which to build a lifetime of healthy eating habits. What step can you take this week to strengthen your nutritional foundation?
Choose to rest by spending time in nature
Time spent in nature is healing to the soul. In her wildly enchanting book, The Natural World of Winnie-the-Pooh, author Kathryn Aalto tells of the gift given to Winnie-The-Pooh author A.A. Milne and his brother by their parents:
“Their parents gave the boys a most wonderful gift: a childhood of aimless wandering and imaginative play.”
Of this gift, Milne said: “We were given more freedom than most children…We were allowed to go for walks by ourselves anywhere, in London or in the country…”
Milne relished the outdoor memories he made with his brother, including his wooden hoop raids in London, and his days-long explorations of the countryside.
While those not living in the countryside like Milne may be restricted in their outdoor activity, there is always green grass to be found, in which to walk barefoot, or the warm rays of the sun, in which to bask. There is the chirp-chirping song of birds to liven one’s day; or a fleeting soft breeze to refresh one’s soul.
“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” — John Lubbock
Choose to rest by connecting with others
Connecting with others can be restful. Take a quiet moment to write a thank you card to a friend. Stop to chat with a neighbor at the mailbox. Take time to read a storybook aloud to your child. While spending time alone is important, finding time for meaningful connections is vital for healiing and restoring one’s mental health.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up…” —1 Thessalonians 5:11
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Choose to rest by doing something you enjoy
Pursuing one’s interests, hobbies, and passions is key when it comes to improving one’s mental health. Get in the habit of regularly asking yourself: “What am I looking forward to? What would I like to spend my time doing? What is my ‘cow’?”
Carve out time in your day or week to spend doing something that will fill your cup. Do something that will refresh your spirit, and give you the energy to move forward with the responsibilities of life.
“Managing our stress and our rest is a sign of living wisely. Refueling as a way to find joy, to create pleasure, and to celebrate life in the midst of all its demands fills our hearts with renewed hope. When we take the time to breathe, listen, and rest from the daily grind to see miracles bubbling up in our lives.” — Sally Clarkson
Choose to rest by connecting with God daily
Of the five forms of rest shared, most important is daily connection with God. Whether through prayer, quiet reflection, or the study of God’s word, daily connection with God helps to fortify one against the negative forces that threaten on every side. While the wind figuratively blows through each of our lives, threatening destruction at every turn, God’s peace stands ever ready, fully capable, and eternally able, to restore, strength, and heal in ways only His all-encompassing love and peace can.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6
Leisure: The Basis of Culture
Discover the connection between leisure and worship in this fascinating and classic work by author Josef Piper.
Why We Should Choose To Rest
To conclude, if you have not been incorporating rigorous forms of rest into your daily routine, today is the perfect time to begin.
Simply put, God is calling us to lead the way.
Indeed, “the world needs believers who are healthy and rested, to point to the Living Water and the Bread of Life.” — Mary Gallagher
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70+ Hygge Hobbies For Women
This list of cozy, hygge hobbies may inspire you in your efforts to rest. Find a list of 199+ Hobbies for Teens here.
- Acrylic Painting
- Applique
- Audiobooks
- Baking
- Bird Watching
- Blogging
- Board Games
- Bread Making
- Calligraphy
- Candle Making
- Clay Projects
- Collage Art
- Collecting
- Coloring
- Cooking
- Creative Writing
- Crochet
- Cross Stitch
- Decoupage
- Diamond Art
- Documentaries
- Edible Art
- Egg Art
- Embroidery
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- Fairy Houses
- Flower Arranging
- Foraging
- Friendship Bracelets
- Gardening
- Genealogy
- Greeting Card Making
- Herbology
- Hiking
- Home Decorating
- Houseplants
- Jewelry Making
- Jigsaw Puzzles
- Journal Writing
- Knitting
- Letter Writing
- Logic Puzzles
- Macrame
- Meditation
- Mixed Media
- Mosaics
- Musical Instrument
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- Hobby-Related Gifts
- Survival and Preparedness
- Movies and Books
- Arts and Crafts
- Toys and Games
- Sporting Gear
- Seasonal Gifts
- Birthday Gifts
- Stocking Stuffers
- Nature Journaling
- Nature Photography
- Nature Walks
- Origami
- Paint by Number
- Paper Crafting
- Planner Journaling
- Poetry Writing
- Punch Needling
- Quilting
- Reading
- Road Trips
- Sketching
- Scrapbooking
- Sewing
- Soap Making
- Star Gazing
- Storytelling
- Tai Chi
- Tapestry
- Tea Time
- Thrifting
- Watercolor
- Whittling
- Wool Felting
Hobbies can aid in spiritual development. Worthy music, dance, art, and writing are among the creative activities that can enrich the soul. A good hobby can dispel heartache and give zest to life.
