I lay on the ground, feeling the gravel digging into my palms and the sting of a scraped knee. This was the third time I’d tripped and fallen in two weeks. This was getting ridiculous! Or rather, it wasn’t ridiculous; it was telling. I was too stressed, too tired, juggling too many balls. I was so distracted with my ministry that my head couldn’t keep track of where my feet were. I needed rest. 

I’ve read that many Christian workers take a sabbath from physical work but never rest their souls. The reality I’ve found is that many people in ministry don’t rest their bodies or souls! If we take a day off from ministry, we run errands or clean house. If we take a “retreat,” we spend the time fervently praying for our ministry and those we serve. Whether from a recognition of the enormity of the task, a sense of obligation to our supporters, or a feeling of guilt over anything that might even approach slacking, we in ministry regularly overwork. And even when we stop our physical work, our minds continue churning away, parsing and chewing over problems, issues, concerns. 

Yet God tells us to cast our cares on Him, to come away and take a rest, to not be anxious. He wants us to rest in Him.  

God created us, body and soul, and gives us stewardship over both. You can drive a car without giving it proper maintenance like regular oil changes and new tires, but eventually, the engine will seize or the car will skid off the road. We can do God’s work without giving our bodies and souls proper maintenance like physical and spiritual rest, but we will eventually get ill or burn out. That is not good stewardship. 

There used to be a saying that went around in Christian circles: “I’d rather burn out than rust out.” God doesn’t ask us to do either. Caring for ourselves allows us to remain in ministry for the long haul. It is simply good stewardship of the body and soul God has given us.