Rest ≠ Unproductivity
Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4:6-8; 25-26 (Read the entire passage here)
Well, I’m going into week 2 of not feeling the greatest 😒🙄. I’ve found myself having to sit and not move much for a couple of days, just to make sure things don’t get out of control. TGBTG (to God be the glory) , I’m encouraged that nothing has gotten worse and I prayerfully only have to tough it out until Thursday for my next infusion of the good stuff. I’ve learned that if we look and listen close enough, God uses specific periods of time to teach valuable lessons about ourselves and Himself. This time, I’ve noticed a few personal revelations and changes that I would like to share with you:
Over the past couple of months, God has repeatedly brought me to John 4. Isn’t it amazing how one passage can have so many different revelations? My most recent study of the passage brought me to today’s topic - rest and productivity. In this passage, Jesus was tired after His long journey from Judea. He needed to rest (always remember - if Jesus had to rest, so do you), but His ministry didn’t stop. The message He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well resulted in the turning of many Samaritans into believers. Imagine that - raising up new believers and disciples just from a conversation that came during a time of rest!
Now, I’m not comparing anyone to Jesus, especially not myself, but this passage brings into question how we are spending our “down” or rest time (and even our time as a whole). I’ve had a lot of this time lately due to some pain, which means I’ve also had a lot of room to do absolutely nothing productive and all things wasteful. But look, you can only scroll through so many Instagram pictures and watch so many episodes of Star Trek before you start to zone out.
Lately, God has been convicting me about my use of time, and rightfully so. It has been my prayer for a while that He lead me deeper in my faith and equip me for what He wants me to do. He has already blessed me with the opportunity to be at home with our son, which allows me some free time to do what I want and allow my body to rest (thank goodness for a toddler who naps). Given that He arranged the time for me, it would only be appropriate if He directed and disciplined me on how to use this precious resource.
In the weeks leading up to now, my interest in studying the Word and reading about all things spiritual has piqued, and my desire to see Sir Patrick Stewart in command decreased (although, it will never be fully eliminated). I have started to utilize my “quiet time” for intercession and prayer, and I have begun to have clear conversations with God in the absence of TV or phone distractions. Over the past 3 weeks I’ve read through 4 books and have studied (not just read) the Bible nearly every day. (This isn’t meant to be a humble brag, but I’m a self-proclaimed reading “hater,” so this accomplishment is actually pretty big for me.) Our TV now stays off a lot of the day, with some allowance for Paw Patrol, and I have spent much less time on social media. I’ve learned that reading (or listening to audio books), praying, meditating, or even talking to others can be done without disturbing physical stillness. I’ve also realized that sometimes, I can find more restoration in studying the Word, than I can taking a nap. What’s more is that I can visibly see the fruit of my productivity in my attitude, physical condition, and spirituality.
All of this is to say that even with a chronic illness and during our “inoperable” time, we can still be productive and used by God. You may not have conversations that bring hundreds to believe the Gospel (but let’s not discount His ability to do so), but if this time is wisely spent building yourself up (not just spiritually, but also intellectually, emotionally, and physically), you’re still doing Kingdom work. Let me be clear in stating that I think a little Star Trek here and there is good for the soul; social media can be a good way to connect, and napping is sometimes necessary. But there’s a thin line between rejuvenation and laziness. If you can’t see at least some tangible results of how you spend your time, that activity most likely has very little worth.
Today’s post isn’t mean to be judge-y or self-righteous. I’m actually slightly embarrassed to admit that I have allowed so many hours, days, and weeks to float by misused. We all need to check our productivity levels once in a while. I think we also need to be reminded that, in all aspects of life, we both deserve and require the growth and rewards that are produced from managing our time sensibly. It’s possible to find restoration and healing while resting with our eyes open, just as much as it is with our eyes closed. As believers, our work to glorify God never stops. As believers with chronic illnesses, we may have to be a little more creative in how we work, but our call remains the same. Time is a gift from God, and we should all be looking to use it a little more wisely.