A successful, young attorney named Steve noticed his hectic schedule was taking its toll on his health.
“I was leading a very, very busy life—sometimes putting in seventy-hour weeks,” he explains. “Every month or so I had a pretty bad migraine. I was in my early thirties and had never had migraines before. My life had just gotten so busy, and I was so tired, that some cracks and strains were beginning to show in my relationships, including the one with my wife.
“I started to pray and to try to analyze my life and figure out what was missing. One of the first things that hit me was my schedule. I didn’t have any time for rest. To me, rest is space within my life—space to step back and to reconnect with God, with my family, with my friends. Rest is time to recharge my batteries and restore my enthusiasm for life and people. I really just needed to find that space in my life.
“I began making sure I got quality time with God. That happens both in the morning as well as on the Sabbath day of rest. The greatest benefit for me is that by increasing the amount of rest in my life, I’m now living more of a reflective life than a reactive one. Rather than a knee-jerk reaction to my circumstances, I take more time to determine what’s really important to me.”
“My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33:14)
SPIRITUAL THOUGHT
Thousands of people like Steve are discovering that spiritual rest is a key part of healthy living. Taking time to bond with God creates a peaceful center in our lives. And it’s from that peaceful center that we can grow toward wholeness.
MY PRAYER
Lord, thank you for giving me a space in time where I can connect with family, friends, and You. Amen.