How heavy is a cup of coffee?
How heavy would you say a cup of coffee is?
Not too much, right? It’s not a real challenge to pick one up and hold it for a moment. But if I try to hold that cup up for an hour, I’m going to start having a sore arm. Chances are good that my arm and the cup are going to start shaking under the pressure. If I try to hold it all day, I’m going to need emergency help! Its weight didn’t change, yet the longer I try to hold it the heavier it becomes.
Stress works the exact same way. We can put up with some stress for a little while, but the longer we try to carry it the heavier it becomes. The pain gets greater and greater until we’re at the point of needing emergency help.
The concept of a Sabbath isn’t something God invented just to give us another rule to try to remember. It’s part of the maintenance manual written by the manufacturer of our bodies. This can be especially difficult for people in Sunday-based ministries. Those at churches with multiple services on multiple days are at even greater risk.
The concept of a quiet time isn’t something Pharisees created to try to impress others with their piety. It’s a recognition that we need daily periods of consciously laying our burdens at the feet of Jesus.
Of course what we’re doing is important. But Jesus said that when we’re weary we should come to him and he will give us rest. If you aren’t feeling rested, it might be because you haven’t spent enough time with Jesus.
