“And on the 7th day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the 7th day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the 7th day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work, which God had created and made.” Genesis 2:2–3 KJV
Have you ever been so tired, exhausted, and out of rhythm from doing so much work that you begin to lose yourself, becoming less available for the things and the people that matter the most to you? Many of us have experienced this at some point in our lives, and it’s essential to find a way to maintain a rhythm of work, gratitude, and rest.
I once attended the service of songs of a business partner’s family member who had passed on. The location was quite far from my home. I made wrong turns on the way there, and the return trip was accompanied by many poor decisions, mirroring how I had been navigating my life in recent months. I was exhausted and out of rhythm.
The realisation hit me hard: I had been neglecting the need for rest and not recognising the milestones I had achieved. Despite appearing busy and engaged, my exhaustion affected the quality of my decisions and the time it took me to do tasks.
How can we leverage God’s rhythm for our work and lives?
Firstly, God’s work had a clear start and finish, and after each day of creation, God assessed it, acknowledging that it was good. In our work-driven world, we often do not set clear boundaries and end times. When we work until exhaustion, we cannot assess our work correctly, and learning from it becomes challenging.
Secondly, an attitude of gratitude is essential. God’s acknowledgement that His work was good shows the importance of recognising the quality of what we have done. It creates space for gratitude, even for the seemingly small blessings. Taking time to reflect and express gratitude for our daily accomplishments is essential.
Lastly, rest is essential. After God completed creation, He incorporated rest into the rhythm. It is vital to intentionally include rest in our daily lives, celebrating and acknowledging our work before taking a break.
These are concepts that I am still learning to embrace, but I understand that intentionality plays a significant role. This may involve turning down projects that do not align with our well-being and commitments. It requires sacrifice and the willingness to embrace a rhythm that prioritises gratitude and rest.
“I intentionally create a rhythm in my life.”
We take charge of our rhythm rather than letting it control us. As we intentionally cultivate a rhythm of gratitude and rest in our lives, we thrive in our work and fulfil our callings as God intended.
Have you intentionally created it, or has it been handed to you? May you find the balance and rhythm that allow you to thrive in all aspects of your life.
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