Woke up this morning, and I knew it was going to be a slow day. I had slept for a solid eight hours, and yet my body was still refusing to get out of bed.  That’s always a sign. A “slow day” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s going to be a “bad day”. I just won’t be following my original schedule. That’s all. It’s not bad, just different.

It usually means that God has other agendas for me to explore instead of what I had planned.  On days like these, I used to just lounge on my couch, and binge watch a k-drama or two… or three. Although the binge watching still happens from time to time, now I know to grab my journal, maybe a book or two, and just get out of the house. While I may lack physical motivation for the usual to-do list, the heart is ready to go on a spiritual journey. Sure enough, when I settled at my local spot with a cup of coffee… I felt the Peace of God welling up inside.  Apparently, this was the Real agenda for my day.

Of course, there’s nothing magical about the coffee nor being away from the house.  However, getting out helps me to not fret over the house that needs to be cleaned, nor the dishes that need to be done.  It’s about giving myself the permission to say Yes to follow my heart and my spirit and allow them to take the lead. And when we allow our heart to take the lead, it will often lead us to still waters and quiet streams.

For most of us, we tend to pack our schedules with things to do and people to see.  And if our bodies start complaining, just up the espresso shots and keep going. Rest has become a four letter word.  We’re so used to putting rest as the last priority. But that’s not how God thinks. He thought rest was so important that He included it as one of the original commands.

Even Jesus said, “Sabbath was made for man.” We need rest. And not just because rest is important for our physical health, but also, rest deeply affects our hearts and spiritual life. It is only when we step away from the “tyranny of the now,” can our hearts be ready to receive deeper things from God.

For me, I’ve noticed that my body will show signs of weariness after a full week.  Sometime it’s Friday, sometime it falls on a Monday.  Even when I don’t try to schedule in time of rest, my physical body will remind me that it needs a break. Through experience, I’ve learned that during those times, it’s best to just take a break and enjoy the day instead of ramming through my list. Whether it’s reading, journal writing, or simply catch some TV show, I always feel much more refreshed afterwards.  When I get back to my normal routine the next day, I am much more efficient and have more insights.

Sabbath was made for us. I hope next time you feel tired, you will consider taking a slow day too and enjoy a refreshing time of rest. You may find it works even better than a magical shot of espresso.