Looking for some simple Bible devotions? Verse reflections like this are by everyday Christian writers—real people just like you! They help give us reasons why the Bible is relevant for everyday life, and how we can connect with God each day.
Relaxation God’s Way
Overloaded? Overcommitted? ….feeling over it?!
God doesn’t want that for us… but how can we even do “relaxation God’s way?”
Take a breath, and check out this verse reflection from Daniel (who finds himself thinking “I need a good rest” quite often).
Scripture: “Better one handful with tranquility, than two handfuls with toil, and chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 4:6).
Written by Daniel Ryan Day
A few years ago, a survey was sent to a bunch of adults asking the question, “If I had an extra hour in the day, I would…” The top two responses? “Relax” and “sleep.” How would you fill in the blank? I think for me, I want anything that leads to “rest.” I’m always overcommitting myself, and I even spend “relax” time thinking about things I need to do. My body’s tired, my brain’s tired, and I often feel anxious. I need rest!
I think that’s why Ecclesiastes 4:6 is so convicting. In context, the wise author is pointing out things that humans try to find meaning in, and how they fall short of providing peace, joy, and contentment. For example: he points out how people try to find identity, purpose, and success in work, but instead, they end up right where I’m at—tired, anxious, and discontent. Why? Because they’re either lazy (v.5) or they try to do too much (v.6).
But it doesn’t have to be this way! Instead of approaching work with urgency and the goal of discovering identity, purpose, and success, the wise author suggests we approach work from a restful place (he calls it “tranquility”). But how do we do that?
Why It Matters
Ultimately, Jesus defined what it looks like to approach work with tranquility. He told his weary followers they could find rest by trusting him (Matt 11:28). Jesus isn’t calling us to heavy burdens, he’s calling us to discover that less is more and trusting him is better than going at it on our own. For me, this means leaving work on time. It means taking a day off. And sometimes, it means saying “no.”
Simple Bible devotions are a great way to connect with God in the everyday. We’ve got verse reflections that help us see reasons why the Bible is relevant today. Visit this page to check them out!
