The Gift Of Rest

The Gift of Rest

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!

Psalm 42:5-6

Every challenge seems greater when we are sleep deprived. Just ask Jill. She had looked forward to motherhood. But after the birth of her son, she found herself depressed. When I dropped off a gift for her baby at lunchtime, she burst into tears, apologized for still being in her robe, and then added she didn’t understand why she felt so “bummed.”

I hadn’t planned to stay for a visit, but I did exactly that. After admiring her sleeping little boy, I made myself right at home and prepared a sandwich and cup of tea for her. I urged her to tell her doctor about her sadness at her next checkup, and then we talked, woman to woman, about the changes her body was going through. I also encouraged her to eat nourishing foods, get as much rest as possible, and stop worrying about the condition of the house.

Then I quoted Psalm 42:5 to let her know her feelings were part of the human experience. Even though this portion of Scripture was written by King David and not by a woman who had just given birth, it still speaks to our hurts today. This is the prayer of a believer who struggled with doubt and depression but finally came through the shadows to hope in God.

I told Jill that in my beloved Kentucky, we explain a person’s temporary withdrawal from life with the nonjudgmental expression that she or he “took to bed” to allow the body and spirit to heal.

She suddenly looked hopeful. “You mean sometimes the most spiritual thing I can do is sleep?”

I smiled. “Yes, especially when your body is recovering from a major event.” Then I added, “I’m going to pray with you before I go, and then you’re going to nap while your baby is asleep. Better days are ahead.”

Today Jill passes along the advice about “taking to bed” to other exhausted folks. After all, when we are discouraged and weary (some Bible versions use the words “cast down”), it takes time before we can jump back into life’s fray. Yes, the Lord is with us in all of our circumstances, but sometimes the best “weapon” we can carry into our daily challenges is the clear head that comes from a well-rested body and spirit. —SANDRA

Lord, my to-do list looks as if it is two miles long. So, help me to be realistic about my responsibilities. And help me to give myself permission to rest.

Tired nature’s sweet restorer, balmy sleep!

—EDWARD YOUNG (1683–1765), ENGLISH POET