What do you do when a wave of fatigue comes over you?

You know when sleep doesn’t seem to take the edge off, extra caffeine doesn’t seem to work and neither does getting away into a quiet place of solitude?

Is it because of physical fatigue only? Or is it something more?

The answer for each of us could be (and probably will be) completely different. But I believe it is worth digging to discover from whence cometh this weariness that seems to seep down into our bones.

I believe that physical routines are vitally important to finding rest, energy, strength and a positive outlook on life. We must remember that the body needs certain nutrients, a certain amount of physical activity and certain amount of R & R to be healthy. Please don’t neglect the element of choosing health for your physical body and yet let us also remember that physical is only one component. Truly as holistic beings we must tend to our emotional, intellectual and spiritual rest as well.

Spiritually speaking we must find our rest in the arms of Jesus. He is our sanctuary, our refuge and the one who give breath to our lungs and strength to our steps. If we don’t find rest in Jesus, we will not only experience an emptiness in our soul but the rest of our lives will also feel out of sync. Spiritual “busyness” will never offer the peace and calm that we want and need. We need to take time in the Bible, in prayer, in meditation, in worship and praise and in trusting/believing in order to find the peaceful calm God has for our souls.

Emotional rest and wholeness is vitally important as well and is deeply rooted in spiritual well being. God is our all in all and we must go to Him for everything, but there also must come a place where we stop carrying around heavy emotional loads that are depleting us from within. We must begin to believe and walk in the truth of God’s Word about who we are and what is available to us in Christ. We also need to stop allowing toxic emotions to infiltrate our emotional health. We must not allow emotions to control us any more than we should allow a red light, a pink slip or a grey cloud to control our lives. We are more than the things around us and we are more than the emotions that want to control us.

Intellectual rest and wholeness similarly is intricately connected to our spiritual lives and the mind of Christ that is ours when we trust Him as our Savior. But like our emotional lives, our intellectual lives must find rest by ceasing from labor and not carrying weight that we were never meant to carry indefinitely. There are some thoughts we never need to think or dwell on and there are certain thoughts that only should be considered for a time. True respite and peace is found in thinking on the eternal truths that are excellent and praiseworthy. Intellectual rest means that it is not only good but necessary to stop trying to “figure it out” and trying to “wrap our heads around it”. Intellectual rest and emotional rest comes from trusting God.

All of these things remind us to “be still in the presence of the Lord and wait patiently for Him”. We can simply gaze upon a sunset and enjoy God’s handiwork. It is okay to sit and watch the wind blow through the tops of the trees and just enjoy living and breathing. Rest and wholeness entails letting go, trusting God, ceasing from labor and enjoying that which God has put before us in this present moment. This is not a thorough primer on rest, relaxation and recovery, but let me tell you that God has a plan for us to experience health and wholeness. It comes from laying our burden down, ceasing our labors and exhausting efforts, trusting God and simply enjoying the present reality of His Presence. Please remember today to “Be still and know that He is God”.