Rest and Restoration

Rest & Restoration

By Aundia Rogers

What does a typical day of rest mean to you? What actions do you take for self-care on a daily or weekly basis? Can you think of anything that keeps you from attaining the rest and restoration you need? If four to five hours of sleep per night and living in a “burn-out” mode are considerably the “norm” for you, your mind and body are crying out for rest and seeking restoration.

As Christians, it is not GOD’s Will for us to live in a fatigued state, with the inability to function productively. Before the invention of electricity, human beings lacked the luxury of late-night television or laboring for hours in front of a computer screen. Decades have passed, and instead of functioning in a twelve to sixteen-hour society, we’ve progressed into a fully capacitive, twenty-four-hour culture. The majority of us consider sleep and rest to be leisure. Leisure, however, is vital for positive health maintenance. When our bodies shift into a state of “overexertion,” almost everything else is either neglected or deteriorates.

“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: For so he giveth his beloved sleep.” Psalms 127:2 (KJV)

In other words, GOD’s will is unquestionable for us to enjoy the peaceful and tranquil benefits of rest and live anxiety-free lives.

The Focus

The primitive meaning of rest is “cease.” GOD modeled the Sabbath day for our spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional well-being. One risks the consequence of suffering when this principle is defied. The purpose of rest is a renewal cycle that GOD provides for us. Rest restores our minds, bodies, and souls. If we avoid the benefits of rest, our bodies become fatigued therefore forfeiting the benefits of attentiveness and robbing our lives of productivity. GOD sanctified and blessed one day of rest for HIS people. May we always revere HIM for such a great principle and keep the covenant of this commandment. Rest is an excellent way to combat stress in everyday life. Stress, according to mayoclinic.org, is an automatic physical, mental, and emotional response to a challenging event. When one experiences stress more capable of bearing, such will progress into distress. The physical symptoms of distress include lack of energy, profuse sweating, and heart palpitations. The mental or cognitive manifestations include difficulty concentrating, irritability, and paranoia. Emotional symptoms include anxiety, grief, and mood changes. “And GOD blessed the seventh day and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all HIS work which GOD created and made.” Genesis 2:3 (KJV)

The Stressor

From 2016 to 2018, I became oppressed by a spirit of extreme busyness that stemmed from emotional distress and grief. My maternal grandfather passed away on December 28, 2014, and my maternal grandmother - his wife, passed away on December 05, 2015. These events, just shy of an entire year, caused challenges to my emotional state of wellness over time. I’d never experienced personal loss on such a scale throughout my life. Without realizing it, I coped with this distress through excessive work, overindulging in church labor, and personal life affairs. While some people isolate themselves when someone close dies, my actions were the opposite. I found ways to keep myself busy to avoid experiencing sorrow and being reminded of who I’d lost within a short period. Years later, I suddenly became so physically exhausted and fatigued that I experienced vertigo or a feeling of being off-balance. Symptoms of vertigo are headaches, dizziness, spinning, and nausea. My battle with vertigo was a “reality check,” which caused me to explore different, positive ways to cope with grief.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” 3 John 1:2 (KJV)

The Counteraction of Distress

You may ask yourself, “how do I counteract the negative influences of distress with the positives of rest and restoration?” For starters, commit to at least one hour each day to rest, even if it doesn’t involve sleep. Also, pull away from the cyber world of social media, television, and online shopping and counteract these influences with positive reinforcements such as praying, reading a book, afternoon naps, and connecting with nature. Submit to GOD’s way of rest and restoration as the primary solution to conquering this challenge. In her wisdom, I stood forewarned by the late Dr. Shirley Murray - Founding First Lady of the Full Gospel Holy Temple Church, Inc., “I don’t know why we think we can outrun JESUS!” Think about it! Take rest, be restored, and be well!