Taking a Day of Rest

How many of you feel you work hard during the week, whether it be schoolwork, chores, sports, practicing your instrument, or working on a club project? Do you find yourself looking forward to the weekend? Why is that? Do you sleep in? Rest and relax? Play and have fun? Some adults use the weekends to catch up on housework, the cleaning, grocery shopping, running errands, home projects, etc.

Do you think it’s important to make time for rest? Why is that? We all need to take time to slow down, look at what we have accomplished, and renew our strength and energy.

In the Creation story from Genesis, we learn that God rested after he created the heavens and earth. Genesis 2:2-3 reads:

By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Even God felt it was important to take a break. He created for six straight days and then rested on the seventh. Many adults work more then six or seven days without taking a day of rest. If we work too much without any breaks, we become very tired and not as productive as we could be. So we all need to make some time for rest, even if can’t be a full day.

Dear God, thank you for creating the heavens and earth and thank you for showing us that it is important to take a break and rest so we can renew our strength and energy. Amen