How to Stay Young at Every AgeSample

Take Time to Rest

I believe that hard work is good for us and that through it, we can bring honor to God. But if we don’t also have periods of rest, working excessively can be harmful to our health. 

At 73, I received the diagnosis of extreme adrenal fatigue. The doctor wrote me a prescription for medication to help with the stress. But the medicine was not all I needed. The doctor also prescribed resting for at least eighteen months! 

In the early days of my recovery, I was so tired that I couldn’t do much but sit in a recliner and look out the window. But inside, I kept thinking, I should be doing something. I needed to learn to value rest as much as I value work. Maybe you do, too. Let me encourage you to give yourself permission to be tired. You don’t need a reason or an excuse. If you are tired, rest! If you feel you are excessively tired, see your doctor. But if you are tired simply because you are aging, accept it and take a break or a nap.

Anyone can experience burnout unless they use wisdom in managing life’s demands. If we want time to relax, we have to schedule it rather than simply waiting for it to appear on our calendars. 

Maybe you need to schedule rest time or fun time on a regular basis and stick to it as you would a very important appointment.

We see in Genesis 1:31 that even God took time to rest and enjoy the good work He had done. We need to follow that example. What is the point in spending our lives working hard at something if we never take time to enjoy the rewards?

Prayer Starter: Father God, I am thankful that You have commanded me not only to work but to take time for rest and relaxation. In the midst of my busy life, help me to use wisdom in setting up my schedule so that I can enjoy a godly balance of work and rest, for the rest of my life. 

Adapted from the book How to Age Without Getting Old by Joyce Meyer. Copyright 2021 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

What more can you do to prepare for your future today? Find out by signing up for Joyce Meyer’s free 10-day Bible study based on her newest book, How to Age Without Getting Old. Whether you’re in your 20s or a few decades down the road, the wisdom in this study will help you do now what will bring you happiness and fulfillment in the years ahead. Sign up today!