Don't Waste Your Coronavirus
One of the overwhelming symptoms that I had during my bout with Coronavirus was fatigue. There was one day that I slept for nineteen hours! For all of the math whizzes out there, that means that, yes, I was only awake for five hours that day. It was so difficult to stay awake some days that I would wake up, walk to the couch, and then have to nap because I was so exhausted. Yet, it is this fatigue that I want to speak about here.
Biblical Idea of Rest
One of the continuous threads that runs throughout the entire Scriptures from beginning to end is the idea of “rest.” This starts in the very beginning, when God created for six days and on the seventh day, He rested. We see specifically in Genesis 2:3, “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.” It is on this basis that the Law of the Sabbath was created. We find in Exodus 20:8-10, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” On the seventh day the Israelites were to rest from all their work because God rested on the seventh day from His work. We see later in Exodus 33:14 that God’s very presence is what brings rest. It is a theme found peppered throughout the Psalms (3:5, 4:8, 23:2-3, 37:7, 62:1-2, 73:26, 91:1, 116:7, 127:1-2). We find it in one of the beautiful promises of God in Isaiah 40:29-31, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” We also see a similar promise in Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.”
We find this idea of rest in the New Testament as well. One of the most famous examples can be found in Jesus’ own words, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30). We see that rest is something that we are to fight for. Hebrews 4:9-11 says, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” Notice the text says that we are to strive to enter rest. This is often seen as a contradiction. How can you strive or work toward rest? Yet, the context of the passage teaches that this occurs as time is unfolding and continues until the revealing of Christ. Finally, there is an eschatological rest that is found when reading Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
Fatigue Should Lead Us To Rest
In medical practices, when trying to diagnose a problem, the doctor asks about the symptoms that you are experiencing. This is precisely the issue we’re dealing with here, where fatigue is the symptom that we are dealing with, and the resolution and treatment is rest. However, with many, rest does not come as easily as it does with others. I’m not speaking about merely sleeping (though sleep is a great source of rest). Sleep is vital not only for physical rest, but also for the mental rest it provides. But there are other ways to rest too. While many envision staring mindlessly at TV shows for hours, there are other ways to rest. There is reading to provide rest; various genres can be engaged, but often fiction narratives are helpful so that you are not engaging your mind on a high level. Spend time relaxing and being present with your family or friends. Enjoy nature, heading outdoors to view the beauty of God’s creation. Listen to or create music. Draw, paint, or sculpt. The point being, if we are feeling fatigued, we need to know of ways to rest. Rest only works if what we do is truly restful for us. There is the frightful impulse of workaholics to simply work more when they feel “off.” We must combat this idea to truly find biblical rest for both our bodies and souls. We are called to rest from our duties and our works, but it does not mean to simply loaf and do nothing. Look to take up a hobby or to have productive leisure. Go read a book, take a stroll, take up writing, play games with your children, pick up an instrument, or anything else that allows you to enjoy the gifts of God. There are many things you can do when you are in “rest,” but do them all to the glory of God. If you’re tired and weary, get some rest. Take a nap even, for even our Lord napped, so they must be good and beautiful!
