In the last Rest Stop I mentioned two steps you must take if you’re going to experience rest and life balance. Our focus for this post is on step one. To achieve a restful and balanced life you must first recognize and admit you don’t have one. About 5 years ago I thought I was doing fine but there was a nagging restlessness within me that I couldn’t shake. I decided to take a full day to get away by myself and take a long hard look at my life.

As I assessed my overall wellbeing, I realized the following: Physically: I had gained 50+ pounds, had terrible eating habits, was on a statin for high cholesterol, on high blood pressure medicine, rarely got enough sleep, didn’t take vacation time, couldn’t or wouldn’t take time to rest or relax.

At work we can accumulate up to and carry over a maximum of 40 vacation days into the next calendar year. Anything over 40 is forfeited on a quarterly basis as additional vacation days accrued. I treated losing 4-5 days per quarter like an award, a badge of honor. After all I’m working in full time ministry doing God’s work. How sad and misguided is that? Did I really think the ministry couldn’t successfully continue without me?

Spiritually: Outwardly I appeared fine. Active in church, teaching, serving, leading, I looked like I had it together. But inwardly, instead of a healthy sheep lying down in green pastures pictured in Psalm 23, I looked more like a stampeding bull. I was Martha, banging pots in the kitchen always doing something instead of Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus. In this story found in Luke 10:38-42 Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

The physical and spiritual miscues had taken a toll on me mentally and emotionally. I developed unhealthy thought patterns and experienced lots of negative self-talk. I didn’t have a mental or emotional breakdown but there were several things that manifested themselves such as worry, high levels of stress, unhealthy eating to cope with stress, struggles with anger, and instant mood swings from delight to discouragement.

I cried out, “Lord help!” I came across that familiar passage in Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” I prayed, “Lord please give me this rest!”

I had taken the first step toward discovering rest and a balanced life. I admitted I didn’t have one.

How about you? Are you ready to take the first step? I invite you to find a quiet place and get away for several hours or a full day and assess your life spiritually, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Be brutally honest. Next time we’ll look at step two.

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