I’m tired. It’s been a long, stressful month. Lots of major decisions. Business travel. Hectic schedules. Sick kids. Possibly the most ridiculous scuffles I could possibly have with my wife. It’s been really hard to be focused on God and my journey toward Him.  I’ve been unable to sustain ongoing quiet time, unable to write, unable to make progress. And as I’ve said before, if I’m not moving forward, that means I’m falling backward.

I still maintain that to be a true statement. However, I also have discovered an important caveat. I don’t have to be moving forward if I am intentionally resting in God. Sometimes it is better to just press pause.

As I rapidly circle the drain and press ahead on this lifelong journey, I have to allow myself a pit stop here and there. This will be the first and hopefully last NASCAR reference I’ll ever make within the confines of this blog, but can you imagine what would happen if a NASCAR driver refused to pull over for gas, tires or whatever else they do to the cars during a race? Eventually, they’d run out of gas, blow a tire or both. Among other bad things.

The same goes for my Christian walk. Without finding rest, without refueling, without replenishing myself in God, I’m either going to give in or give up. Give in: to those same old sins that always throw me off track and cause me to stumble. Give up: and stop short of what God has for me because I’m exhausted, frustrated and spent. Or both. Among other bad things.

In Galatians 6:9 it says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Now, I said I was tired, not weary. But it’s a short ride from one to the other. And if I allow myself to get to weary, I’m much more likely to lose heart and to be exhausted from trying to pursue God and His will for me.

One of the most famous verses in the Bible goes something like this: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28.

Another verse I really like is Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Everything in this world seems intent on pulling against our pursuit of God. Each day seems up to the challenge of challenging us. It’s quite easy to get tired, to grow weary, to give in, up or both. Just as you eventually need to rest your head on a pillow and rest your physical body, your mental and spiritual self requires the same rejuvenation on a regular basis.

For me, it is natural to press into my faith walk. To battle for quiet time. To reach for the next objective or achievement. To wage war with the world around me. To thrash about and exert energy. To march ahead, whether God is ready or not. On the other hand, I often forget to rest. To sense my tiring self and to retreat to God and ask for Him to relax me and give me peace. To let me refuel. To take on my burden with me and provide me with relief. To simply press pause and intentionally rest in God. There is rest for the weary after all. If only we receive it.