ONE: FCA Reading Plan For CompetitorsSample

Little Bump. Big Change.

By Rebekah Trittipoe

READY:

“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.” – Psalm 62:5

SET:

I’m not used to sitting around. I am a woman of action—working, meeting people, planning, being a wife, gardener, pool attendant, coach, and running (literally) a lot of miles around town and in the mountains. I enjoy being productive and often pride myself on the volume of work I can do in a short amount of time. But the emergency brake was pulled for me this week. Everything came to an abrupt halt.

I ran a 35-mile mountain trail race five days ago. Now I sit on my bed contemplating how a little bump discovered along my jawline several months ago could reset my normal. 

Two days ago I had a tumor removed, leaving six inches of incisions that need to heal. I’m told to do nothing active for a week or two. Now I’m trying to figure out how to do nothing. That’s harder than running 35 mountain miles.

As athletes, we can get so wrapped up in our training and goal-achieving that we miss out on something both beautiful and restorative: quietness and rest. In reality, if we fail to have these periods, we will eventually blow up, and our effectiveness will lessen.

You don’t need a major surgical intervention to take some down time. But we all should be intentional to take well-planned rest from the fray so that we come back better equipped to use our talents for God’s glory.

GO: 

1. How is resting different than being lazy?

2. Is it possible to optimize physical training without effective rest?

3. What are some benefits of rest?

WORKOUT: 

Genesis 2:2-3

Psalm 23

Matthew 11:28, 29

Hebrews 4:9-11

OVERTIME: 

“Father, resting is hard. Help me to see resting in You as a necessary component of my training. Please restore me, Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.”