Soul Vitamin – Rest (part 1)
I’m so excited to start up this Soul Vitamin section…I feel like there are so many stories (i.e. lessons) that I have had happen to me in the last year. I just keep learning…and growing. It’s fun to actually start sharing more of my life and what’s happening here…
A few weeks ago, I was
sitting in church and I found myself writing a list.
I stopped paying attention to whatever was happening at the time, and absorbed myself in scribbling. I was tired…more than tired…I was exhausted. I knew something had to change.
If you know me, you’ll understand that I’m a huge people person. Honestly, I’m the most extroverted person I know. And I know a lot of people. I get energy from people…not from rest or alone time. My thought process when I felt tired at 10 at night was not “I’m going to bed because I’m sleepy”…it was “I’m tired, I’m going to spend some time with people.”
Yes. Actually.
This all started over a year ago. I decided sleep was a waste of time when I could easily get the same energy from people (yes, a ridiculous notion), so I cut down my sleeping hours and explored polyphasic style sleeping (don’t do it!). I became obsessed with this crazy lifestyle and began to sleep only 2-5 (mostly around 4hrs) a night. I did this consistently for a year.
When people complained to me of a night where they only had 5 hours or told me of how exhausted they were, I’d nod and say, “Man, that’s rough”…but inwardly, I was rolling my eyes. I had slept three hours that night and two the night before…weeks on end…and I didn’t understand. I just thought people were weak. I thought sleep was weakness. And I felt like I was thriving. Stupid, right?
Ten months into this, I started getting pretty narcoleptic. My motivation and inspiration was low (a big part of why I didn’t blog) and I found myself dozing at the worst times. I fell asleep on the bathroom floor, the doctor’s office, a furniture store, a restaurant…you get the picture.
I told you my life was crazy.
Two months ago, God got my attention. Guess what Charissa?! You’re not invincible.
He also used this verse…
Psalm 127:2 “It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.”
For some reason, I didn’t think sleep was something God cared about…especially since I was using my extra time to reach out to people. Guys…God cares about taking care of you. He cares about sleep.
In fact, in this verse Jesus realizes that His friends were tired because of being with people and told them to go have a rest!
Mark 6:31 “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Truth.
It’s a lie that we need to busy all the time…or even take care of other people constantly. Go have a nap.
Then you have more to give later.
Thoughts? How do you find balance in this area? Any stories?
Because rest is something I’ve been learning a lot about lately (physically and spiritually), there will be more coming! This is something key that I think is super relevant to our “always busy” culture. I’m looking forward to more discussion!
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Hi Charissa! Thank you SO much for posting about this! It’s something I’ve been thinking much more about this past year as well (though I admit, I get more than 4 hours of sleep a night … not a nice person if I don’t! hehe). But its that belief that if we just keep going, going, going and reaching out to more and more people or (for me) being more and more productive with each minute, somehow that is better and ultimately, somehow it glorifies God more. Even if I wouldn’t think this through, it was the underlying belief in my heart and mind. I’ve been taking more time to enjoy the “simple pleasures” in life being intentional to actually schedule down time where I plan only to sit on the patio, read my bible, and ponder the things of God….wow! How my heart, mind, body, and relationships have been changing as I care more for myself in this way and ultimately set my heart and mind on God more.
This is getting quite long, so I’ll stop! :) All that goes to say, I’m excited for this series and look forward to learning together.
Have a great day! And I hope you enjoy a few simple pleasures that God has given you today. :)
Sometimes I have trouble getting to sleep even when I am tired so this spiritual nugget is encouraging to me :)
God and science will all tell you how important sleep is to your health. As should falling asleep at random times. Glad you’re getting yourself back on track.
Sleep is something that I need to work on – I need more of it. Just before I clicked over to read your post, I looked at my clock and thought about the fact that I really should be asleep but oh well. I’m glad that you’re getting more rest and I making a commitment to do that too!
Great post! Sleep is so important. I’m so glad you’re getting more of it! I get around 6 hours of sleep a night but want to get more.