Beside Still Waters
Contributing Writer: Lisa Duscio, Team Inheritance of Hope Coordinator
It may sound strange, but rest actually mobilizes our bodies to fight off disease. When our body is under the stress of a chronic illness, quality rest is necessary for healing and restoring balance.
Click here to read whether you should exercise or rest when you’re sick.
Rest is equally as important as the other five exploits in the self-care health wheel. Even if no one else does, give yourself permission to rest.
According to Florida Hospital, here are a few key benefits of rest:
God also places a heavy emphasis on rest. “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” God rested on the seventh day of creation. Laying our burdens down and trusting Him allows us to enter into His rest.
It may sound strange, but rest actually mobilizes our bodies to fight off disease. When our body is under the stress of a chronic illness, quality rest is necessary for healing and restoring balance.
Click here to read whether you should exercise or rest when you’re sick.
Rest is equally as important as the other five exploits in the self-care health wheel. Even if no one else does, give yourself permission to rest.
According to Florida Hospital, here are a few key benefits of rest:
- Improved Memory: Lack of sleep can make it difficult for you to concentrate and retain information. When you sleep, your brain goes through all the activities and impressions of the day which is important for memory formation.
- Maintain a Healthy Weight: Sleep and metabolism are controlled by the same area of the brain. Sleep releases hormones that control appetite. Researchers at the University of Chicago found that dieters who were well rested lost more fat.
- Heart Health: A 2010 study found that C-reactive protein, which is associated with heart attack risk, was higher in people who got six or fewer hours of sleep a night.
- Reduce Stress: Sleep and stress have similar effects on your cardiovascular stress. Being well rested can reduce stress levels and improve your overall health.
God also places a heavy emphasis on rest. “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” God rested on the seventh day of creation. Laying our burdens down and trusting Him allows us to enter into His rest.
ACTION ITEM
Choose a day in your week that will be a true day of rest where you can plan to spend time with family and friends, read a book, go to church, or take a break from electronics. What day are you choosing?
MY STORY
After my stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, I was restless and sleepless until I truly laid down my worries and fears, exchanging them for God’s peace. It took about seven months of struggle to enter that rest. I now sleep well at night and wake up feeling rested.
A comfort to me was learning that the Hebrew word shalom which has been translated as peace in English means much, much more. Jesus is the Prince of Peace making His shalom available to each of us.
According to Strong's Concordance 7965, Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect, and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid.
God leads us beside still waters. He restores our soul. This is true rest.
Choose a day in your week that will be a true day of rest where you can plan to spend time with family and friends, read a book, go to church, or take a break from electronics. What day are you choosing?
MY STORY
After my stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis, I was restless and sleepless until I truly laid down my worries and fears, exchanging them for God’s peace. It took about seven months of struggle to enter that rest. I now sleep well at night and wake up feeling rested.
A comfort to me was learning that the Hebrew word shalom which has been translated as peace in English means much, much more. Jesus is the Prince of Peace making His shalom available to each of us.
According to Strong's Concordance 7965, Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect, and full. In modern Hebrew the obviously related word Shelem means to pay for, and Shulam means to be fully paid.
God leads us beside still waters. He restores our soul. This is true rest.