The Joy SwitchSample

One sign that our brain’s relational circuit has shut down is that we may refuse what we truly need. In Isaiah 30, God tells his people that they will be strong when they rest, when they quietly trust in him. How tragic is the response! “You were unwilling, and you said, ‘No! We will flee upon horses,’ therefore you shall flee away….” While God will allow us to refuse rest, our bodies, emotions, and our relationships will pay a hefty price for that refusal. Without a healthy rhythm that includes times of joy and times of rest, our relational circuit will dim, and our best efforts to power through will fail us.

Rest is the purposeful pause to quiet our mind and body. Taking a short breather keeps us stable and helps us return to relational mode and remember what we need. Rest is a foundational skill for strong mental and emotional health. It is also a quickly fading skill in modern society. But with practice, we can learn how to rebuild this important habit back into our life and relationships. Our families and communities will be more resilient and relational when rest is a regular part of life and interactions. 

Thankfully, rest is available to us in the simple act of breathing. Deep, slow breathing activates the part of our nervous system that enables our body to relax. When we recognize the need to rest, we can take a few deep breaths and perhaps close our eyes for a few seconds. Rest is an underrated skill that pays big dividends on a few seconds’ investment. All too often, we lose our relational circuit and shift into enemy mode because we need a quick breather, but we don’t notice the signs. Keeping an eye out for muscle tension, rapid heartbeat, and a sense of “this is too much!” will help you recognize it’s time for a breather. 

Psalm 131:2 says, “But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Imagine a young child in his mother’s lap, resting quietly against her chest.” Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and rest in God, trusting him that even your busy day has time for rest. He has promised that rest will bring you strength. 

Practice

These exercises will help you tune in to your need for rest today. 

1. Take a moment to sit still, with your hands in your lap, and eyes closed. A 30-second break can refresh and reset your relational circuit, especially if you speak to God, telling him, “Today, Lord, quietness and trust shall be my strength.”

2. Try to take a breather every hour today. You may want to set a timer on your phone to remind you to pause and breathe. During this 30-second break, remember something for which you are thankful. 

3. At the end of the day, take a few minutes to notice how these moments of rest affected your body, emotions and relational interactions.