The Rest Advantage
The Strategic Strength of Rest
In a culture that defaults to comfort and passivity, most men need a push to engage life with purpose and energy. We’re all for that. You’ve heard the rally cries:
“Get After It!”
“Motion Is Lotion!”
“Curse the Comfort!”
These aren’t just slogans—they’re reminders that passivity kills purpose. But for the man who’s already pushing hard, running fast, and trying to squeeze every drop out of the day... what then?
There’s another danger: burnout.
High Output Can Lead to Low Return
Early mornings, stacked schedules, chasing productivity… it can all look like leadership on the outside while secretly leading you into a cycle of:
Fatigue → Poor Performance → Discouragement → Burnout
We think we’re gaining ground, but the constant grind actually dulls our edge.
The question is: How do we stay active and effective without breaking down?
High Performers Know the Secret: Rest Is Strategic
Ask any elite athlete, military operator, or peak performer—rest is part of the program.
It’s not an afterthought. It’s part of the strategy. Without recovery, growth stalls. Without pause, power fades.
And this isn’t just physical—it’s spiritual too.
Even God, after creating the universe, rested on the seventh day.
He wasn’t tired. He was setting the pattern.
In fact, rest made His top ten:
“Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8)
As followers of Jesus, we’re not under the law anymore. But in our freedom, we ask a better question:
“Father, what is Your will for me?”
Even when we ask that question sincerely, there’s often a tension—because rest doesn’t come naturally to us.
Why We Avoid Rest (Even When We Know Better)
Here are five core reasons we resist the very thing that could restore us:
The Tyranny of the Urgent: We let what’s loudest control our schedule
We Shoulder the Weight Alone: If it’s going to happen, it’s on me
FOMO Is Real: We don’t want to miss out on what others are doing
We React Instead of Lead: No plan means no margin
We Tie Our Value to Output: If I’m not producing, I’m not worth much
But what if this mindset is actually holding us back?
How My View of Rest Has Changed
Here are some truths that have reshaped the way I see and practice rest:
If it’s important to God, it should matter to me
Rest isn’t lost time—it’s what fuels my growth
Urgency is a tyrant if I don’t lead with intention
Outcomes ultimately belong to God, not me
When I skip rest, I miss the moments that matter most
Rest makes me a better leader, not a weaker one
Rest keeps my identity rooted in sonship, not striving
4 Practical Ways to Start Resting Today
You don’t need a vacation or sabbatical to start. Rest begins in moments—and builds into rhythm.
1. Rest in the Moment
Take a deep breath
Turn your attention to God
Remember the Holy Spirit is with you
Release stress, fear, frustration
Receive what He has in return—peace, joy, wisdom
2. Schedule Time for Rest and Worship
Block out time for God, yourself, and your family
Put your phone away during that time
Don’t slide back into work mode too early
3. Lead with Intentionality
Rest isn’t something you earn after burning out
It’s something you build in so you can lead longer
4. Let Rest Shape Your Identity
You are not your output
Rest reminds you that you’re a son, not a machine
Don’t Tap Out—Rest Up
If you’ve been pushing hard lately, the answer may not be more grind.
It might be more rest.
Not laziness. Not escapism.
Rest that reconnects you to your source.
Rest that reminds you who you are.
Rest that restores your strength.
Make rest part of your assignment—and watch how it transforms your leadership.