Richele Walker is a follower of Christ who currently serves as the Director of Family Ministries at Christian Fellowship Church in Ashburn, Virginia. Her greatest accomplishments include being a daughter of the Most High, an only sister, and a blessed wife and mother. She considers being a grandmother a privilege and joy beyond measure.
And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Genesis 1:5
A simple question for you, “How well rested are you?” I’m sure you’ve heard the findings that a good night’s sleep is just as valuable and needed as exercise and a healthy diet to sustain your physical well-being. But being well-rested goes beyond the physical realm and even determines our emotional and spiritual health.
Looking at Genesis, the beginning of creation, why does God seem to put things backwards? And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Doesn’t it make more sense that the first day began with morning and ended with evening? It’s not only the first day, but God also continues the pattern throughout the six days of creation and finally declares the seventh day as the day of complete rest.
Of course, God, who spoke creation into existence, is not confused or mistaken. There are numerous paradoxes within His “logic.” You want to receive, then you should give. If someone treats you harshly or with contempt you should show them kindness and grace. If you are mocked or even persecuted for your faith, you are to count it a joy! There is nothing logical or natural about that. But God, who is a God of order, does not succumb to man’s logic or nature. Everything He creates is for His glory and our good, and evening to morning make perfect sense if you take a closer look.
Each day of creation provided the means and materials for our sustenance, and in the end, God gave us the right to take care of His creation. We, however, traded that right to be left to our own sense of good and evil, and then a walk in the garden became work and the sweat of our brow. This was not God’s design for us, but as always, He had a plan for our good!
And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
It’s no secret to anyone that things don’t always go the way we plan them. We have struggles, worries, and we must work physically, mentally, and spiritually to stay on top of things. Some days are harder than others to find a balance and even possibly inner peace. There are times when it’s all we can do to just get through the day and finally collapse into bed to hopefully meet the challenges of the next day. But what if we flipped the switch, and instead of resting from our day’s work, we work from our evening’s rest?
What if we accept that everything God does has a purpose and that evening to morning makes so much more sense than struggling to get through the challenges of the day? What if at the end of the day, we have a routine to shut off the noise of the day, whether it be electronics, work issues, family struggles, or whatever, and we rest in the evening to be ready for work of the next day. This is not just closing your eyes and getting a good night’s sleep; it is also about RESTING IN GOD to give you the energy, wisdom, and peace for the coming day.
The bottom line is that God never wanted us to work ourselves into a perpetual state of tiredness and fatigue. He says, “Come to me, and I will give you rest.” To be truly well-rested, try changing your routine and mindset to work from rest, not work to rest. And what about that 7th day? Are you taking a day to just chill and reflect on the week’s issues? Are you looking at the upcoming week with peace or anxiety? Even if there’s something on the calendar that is of great concern, REST IN GOD for direction and peace.
No, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch but be intentional with small goals to begin to become well-rested. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. Start this evening to begin the new day!
Each of us has his or her own blueprint, and resting well is part of that unique design. All of us need rest. It’s not just recommended; it is required. Without rest, we can not authentically be who we are designed to be or do what we’ve been created to do. It is a necessary part of God’s design, and as with every other good thing God created, it’s also been distorted. Allowing yourself to spend time connecting with God and inviting Him to redefine what rest truly is will bring about more change than you can imagine.
I'd love to talk with you about this. Please feel free to send me an email or schedule some one-on-one time with me. And consider subscribing to my blog, where I post lots of helpful suggestions on how you can begin (and continue) this journey of recovering your blueprint!
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