Mission Trip Checkup: A Prescription for Spiritual HealthSample

Wind Down and Rest Up

Have you ever felt so poorly that you were convinced something was wrong, only to find that what you needed was a good, long rest? Whether the rest you needed was a nap, a full night’s sleep, or a vacation, rest is more than a luxury; it’s a non-negotiable.

It's admirable to “leave it all on the field,” but when you return from your mission trip, life’s demands will require its usual amount, whether your body, mind, and spirit are ready or not. Some expect the give, give, give nature of mission trips to be tiring, but what is more draining is coming home after so much selfless giving and immediately returning to the hustle and bustle of one’s everyday routine without pausing to refill physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

Rest acknowledges our dependence on God, and making time to rest is not an act of selfishness or weakness. Done well, rest allows the work and inner stirrings that began on the field to take root and not be washed away in the ensuing time of busyness. 

After your mission work, regardless of how you served or if you have jet lag, you will need rest. If you can schedule time following your return to get rested, to decompress, pray, and process everything you experienced, your mission—and your next one—will be all the better for it. 

Practical considerations:

• When you schedule time off for your mission trip, schedule extra time for some days after your trip too. (While you’re at it, include this extra time in your out-of-office email notification so that work won’t bombard you as soon as you’re back home.)
• Allow yourself the time to refill. Set boundaries for yourself so that refilling is possible. Be sure to inform those around you what you need this time to look like. 
• Use your scheduled recharging time to connect with God. Ask Him the hard questions and praise Him for all He did during your time on-mission. 
• Say yes to sleep!