Find RestSample

Closely connected to examining breaks is examining work. Between work, kids, spouses, hobbies, and house cleaning, we are all very busy. Finding a balance between a good work ethic and healthy work practice is delicate.

A friend of mine, when her children were small, had a very busy husband. He is a gifted handyman, and between regular work hours, deacon work, and helping friends, she felt as though she never saw him.

He had to cut back on something. So he did, recognizing that life changes, and when there are two small boys at home, some projects can wait until the children are older. There is a season for everything indeed, since how we worked and what we did at 25 doesn’t have to look the same at 50.

Finding a healthy work balance is important, and we don’t want to be lazy, and we don’t want to be overworked. Recognizing that life circumstances are different is also important because the limit of what we are able to do in this season will look differently than other seasons.

What we struggle with is also different. I tend to struggle with laziness, so being more intentional about how and when I do things is important for me. I take a planned break in the afternoon and work all the other hours around it. For someone who struggles with trying to do everything, learning to say no may be important as is reexamining what we are investing our time in.

We can also ask God to help us with our work. We read throughout the Scriptures how God helped his people overcome great hardships, defeat impossible odds, and conquer difficult tasks. If we don’t see a place where rest can find room in our life, he can help us decide what needs to go. If we feel defeated by the tasks around us, he is strong enough to help us complete them. We can depend on him to teach us how to be better with our time and help us get good rest.

Whatever your season and whatever your struggle, take the time to figure out the balance between work and rest: your work will benefit from it.