Inactivity is not Always Rest: Seeking True Refreshment

We find ourselves in a season of global exhaustion, in which all seem attacked by fatigue. Despite the claims of ‘forced rest’ in the consequences of COVID, many of us are maintaining our workloads, but with additional constraints. Regardless of whether we are able to continue work or not, there are fewer events in our planners. Events are being cancelled or moving online, and ‘going out’ has been minimal. Yet, despite the lack of ‘doing things’, it has not created a sense of rest.

“Inactivity… is not rest. It is preparation for the tomb.”

Robertson Davies

I am a believer in feeling permission to sit around and not do anything when I am exhausted. My Netflix will attest to this tendency. There is certainly no shame in hitting the pause button to simply be. But we find ourselves stuck in a moment that is being pulled to last much longer. We remain in a period or a season of doing nothing. We are not resting by simply being, but we are weighed down by our inactivity. The difference is that rest renews us, while . For example, when we take a rest day from working out, we are not physically exerting ourselves, but we are still active. We are doing stretches, we are addressing any nutritional deficits, we are actively seeking rest. Then, we are able to return to our physical exertion, feeling renewed.

Rest takes effort. We have to lean into it, look for what it is that we need and partner with rest. Speaking for myself, this is not the form of rest I have been seeking for the past few months. During this time, I have found myself busier than before COVID. I have found myself stuck in a rut, cycling through ‘working nonstop’ to ‘coming to a full stop’. It has been unsustainable and… not restful.

Seeking Refreshment

1. Lean into it. When we are simply inactive, we simply take up the space around us, while not being active (or being mentally disengaged). Rest lets the space around us create support, letting in that sense of peace.
2. Assess your needs. Take a moment to pause long enough to determine what it is that you are missing. What is it that you have depleted? What is it that would help you fuel?
3. Partner with rest. Active rest! Now that you know what you need, take the steps to have those needs met. For some needs, we may need to take the responsibility for replenishing those needs. But, for most needs, we need help. Whether through God, or through the community He provides, we may need some help getting those needs met.

This is certainly not an area of my life I have mastered, so if you have suggestions for leaning into rest, I would definitely benefit from your nuggets of wisdom!