I woke up feeling better today than yesterday. And yet, the first thing I wanted was a warm cup and a much-needed rest. I wanted to inhale steam, curl up with a book, and know that nothing more is required of me.
Science says hot liquids help thin our congestion, steam loosens what’s stuck, and fluids keep us hydrated. It won’t cure a cold, but it helps us feel human again.
And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. And the angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 1 Kings 19:5-7 ESV
1 Kings 19 shows God caring for a tired body. Elijah was exhausted and ready to give up. God sent an angel with bread and water. He needed to eat, take a nap, then eat again because the journey was too much. Before God called him onward, He offered care.
That’s the gift of taking a personal day. We’re so used to pushing through at work, at home, or in the gym that we forget we’re allowed to be tended to. A warm cup, a soft blanket, a slow afternoon: these small mercies remind us that we are not machines.
Maybe today, if you’re the one who’s exhausted or under the weather, try to see it as grace. Perhaps Christ is saying, “Come to me, all you who are weary” (Matthew 11:28), and sometimes this invitation looks a lot like a quiet room with something warm to hold, breathe in, and find rest.
Reflection:
What small comfort, like a warm cup of tea or a peace-filled room, could become a moment of rest with Christ?
*For those of you who prayer walk, listen to what the Holy Spirit reveals to you about rest. For your copy of this week’s screensaver, click here. And to access all of my YouVersion Bible App devotional plans, click here.