Save Space For Rest & Play

Stop.

Take a deep breath and close your eyes. As you breathe deeply, consider your hobbies, talents, or favorite things. Take some time reflect on and give thanks for these activities.

Listen.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. – Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

Reflect.

It can be easy to get caught up in the things that must be done. We all find ourselves surrounded by a culture that insists on working hard, hustling, grinding, getting things done, getting ahead, working. When you live too driven by that ideology, it can be hard to relax and have fun. Doing things simply for fun can feel a lot like missing out. Aren’t you wasting time that you could be spending reaching a goal making something happen? 

It’s the end of August. Our lists of summer fun activities are looking unobtainable with less and less time in which to do them. School is starting, schedules are returning, and doing fun things can get easily set aside. Maybe it’s easier to tell yourself that you have to earn fun, that it’s a waste of time, that you don’t really have any hobbies or anything anyway. 

As you start to fill up your fall calendar and plan events for the next four (or six, or nine, or twelve) months, I hope you’ll leave some space for rest and play. God did not create us solely for achievement. Our worth in God’s eyes isn’t in our ability to produce or achieve. God made us in love for love. That means we were meant to enjoy our lives and even spend some time on just plain fun. 

You can claim your fun as an act of faith. When you rest, play, and enjoy, you demonstrate trust in a God who provides not only what you need, but what you like. As you plan your weeks and months, make sure you leave space for faith, rest, and fun. It’s worth it.

Pray.

God, you created time itself. It’s so easy for me to think I need to earn even my time. Help me to slow down. Show me the joy of all you have made. Walk with me as I celebrate, rest, and create, trusting always in your goodness. Amen.

Carry On.

What’s one fun thing you’re going to make space for this week? How can you claim it as an act of faith and trust?