I don't rest well. Doing, on the other hand, is something I am good at. Plan this, fix that, teach them… I'm the kind of person that adds things to my to-do list after they are already done, just for the satisfaction of crossing them out. I like to work. I'm good at being busy. Being productive brings me joy. 

We as global workers are called to a life of service. The work seems never-ending, the needs of those around us ever-growing.

Add to that the unique dynamics of living cross-culturally, where tasks that would be so simple in our home countries require what feels like an inordinate amount of work to accomplish.

I suspect I'm not alone when I say that I work a lot, and I love my work. 

And yet, Scripture is clear that God designed us for rhythms of work and rest. Not only did God set the example to rest, but He commanded His people to do the same.

After six days of good work creating the entire universe, God rested. Have you ever wondered what God did when He rested on the seventh day? He clearly didn't need to rest. He didn't need to tweak a bit of His creation, His mind wasn't spinning, thinking about next week's tasks. He worked and then He rested.

Perhaps He sat back and enjoyed the beauty of His creation. Maybe He watched a cheetah race through a field or walked through the garden with Adam and Eve admiring the beauty of the sun setting through the trees. 

I was recently challenged to rethink my idea of rest, to pattern it more after the example God gave when He Himself rested. To just be. To not produce or improve anything. To take a step back and enjoy God and all that He created for us. It's not easy, and I am still struggling to figure out what exactly that looks like for me. But the times that I am able to take a break to just enjoy God and His creation – whether that be nature, the creative work of someone else's hands, or my family – I find I have truly rested.