When Rest Bottoms Out
It’s amazing how many levels of our lives fall apart when we can’t rest. With years of sleep deprivation under my belt, I’ve seen how lack of sleep alone can make your brain lose its normal high functioning. Lack of rest affects your body and inflammation levels and everything aches. It affects more than our physical symptoms too. When we aren’t rested, it affects our mood, relationships, communication abilities.
With my chronic illnesses in the past, I’ve had too many years of learning to override how my natural body feels. When I can’t move or can’t think or want to be cranky, learning to live off nothing but the power of Holy Spirit in me to keep my eyes open and my face smiling.
While that was a massive life saving grace, that’s still not how He designed our bodies to live long term. We are meant to walk in healing, wholeness, nourishment, strength, and rest.
Sometimes our living environment is not conducive to rest. Be it strife from a harsh neighbor or an abusive family member, or a situation where there’s mold or other physical harm to your body and brain… In these situations, we can feel the fight or flight in our bodies kick in. I don’t know anyone who can sleep well when fight or flight puts the pedal to the metal. Telling your body “Get out! It’s not safe here for you!”
Many people grew up in homes where they didn’t feel safe as a kid, where they never learned to rest. Some of them even create chaos and crisis when things calm down because they’ve never known what rest feels like. So it feels scary to them.
When I get in a situation where my body cannot rest, I know how quickly that can down spiral. It can get downright dangerous for me, where my speech starts to be impaired and my sleeplessness makes driving near impossible. Decision making becomes paralyzed. So I’m very careful to get out of those situations as quickly as possible, so I don’t tank physically, mentally and emotionally.
Here’s what I know about rest. It’s critical. It’s foundational. And the Lord longs to show us mercy and give us the rest we need.
“For this says the Lord, ‘In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and in trust you will regain your strength.”
Isaiah 30:15
He gives us the path to rest. Return to the Lord’s presence. He is our Peace and Rest. Being quiet before Him and trusting Him. That renews our strength.
So whatever it takes, let’s get ourselves to a quiet resting place with the Lord today. He always has something good to say. And even when He’s quiet, His presence alone is healing.
Til next time, Toodle-loo and Peace be with you!
Love,
Danita Jenae
