For some of us, the idea of finding time to rest feels impossible, even if it’s for God. How can God command you to take a day off when you’re already trying so hard to do all the other things He’s given to you? It’s like Pharoah forcing the Israelites to make the same amount of bricks, but with no straw (Exodus 5 v 1-21).

Would it surprise you to learn that rest is under attack?

If l were Satan my goal would be to make sure Christians were as useless as could they be. I would set about trying to convince them of all sorts of great-sounding reasons to rarely (and hopefully never) get around to resting. Here are three ways he keeps us from entering the rest God offers and commands.

1. “I Am What I Do.” (The False Virtue of Busyness.)

One of the biggest lies the modern world has swallowed hook, line, and sinker is the belief that busier is better. In fact, we are addicted to busyness. When we say, “oh, I’m so busy this week,” what we really mean is “Look how important I am.” We believe that if we weren’t doing all these things, the world would end.

The truth is, of course we’re busy, but busyness is not a virtue. In fact, it could very well become a vice in my life that Satan uses to keep us from God.

2. “God’s Given Me Too Much to Do!” (The Religious Achiever Reflex.)

For some of us, the idea of finding time to rest feels impossible, even if it’s for God. How can God command you to take a day off when you’re already trying so hard to do all the other things He’s given to you? It’s like Pharoah forcing the Israelites to make the same amount of bricks, but with no straw (Exodus 5 v 1-21).

The truth is, that mindset comes from a place of emotionally unhealthy spirituality. You might be using God’s instructions about productivity to hide from your direct relationship with God Himself. Even “good” activities, when they come at the expense of God’s invitation to rest with Him, derail us spiritually.

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