That break from work is called rest and is exactly what you need. Some websites will call this break from work taking a sabbatical. But let’s be honest, who can afford to go without work for a year and not be paid? Not many of us at all, including me.
So why do we need rest? What other types of taking a break from work are there besides rest and a sabbatical?
Why do we need a Break from Work? Is Rest necessary?
A break is needed to cease the striving that we do to get ahead. That rest is necessary. It helps to restore the mind and the soul. The brain and the body does a reset and it can clear the fog.
I know that after looking at a spreadsheet for hours, my mind goes to mush and I need to take a break. Even if the break is making a pitstop in the bathroom or walking out to the kitchen to refill my water, it gives my mind some time away from lines of data to clear up. And then I can come back to it refreshed and ready to go.
There are many types of rest that are short-term and then there are long-term types. And even those that go on forever.
6 Types of Break from Work
1. Lunch or Short Breaks
This is the short rest that your employer is required to give you by law. Even though they are ‘short’ – 30 minutes to an hour, this break can be helpful for your body to get rejuvenated to continue on through the remainder of your workday.
2. Non-Work Hours and Sleep
Whether you work during the day on a regular shift or in the evening or the night shift, your non-work hours are a time of rest. Your mind and body can take time to restore and you can think and do something else.
What are the benefits of resting?
And a good night of sleep is required for your body to rebuild and restore. Some benefits of sleep are: your heart has a chance to rest, boosts your immune system to fight off viruses, and sharpens your brain so you can focus better.
3. Day of Rest
If you work 5 days of the week, you often have the weekend to recover. If you work other days, usually you have 1-2 days off to get that same rest benefit. This rest is unpaid like your other non-work hours.
The day of rest refers to the Sabbath or the day that God took off as rest and commanded us to do so as well.
“And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
God resting is an example for us all to take a day of rest to rejuvenate our bodies and our minds. This is also a commandment and holy day to worship God.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work,….Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
4. Vacation or Paid Time Off (PTO)
Instead of being non-work hours where you are unpaid, these days off are paid and well-deserved. They are a major benefit for any employee. Not only do they get the rest and relaxation that their body and mind need, but they also get paid to not work. This brings a big smile to a person when they say they are on vacation and getting paid to do nothing.
5. Sabbatical
Why is it called a Sabbatical?
Sabbatical comes from the Greek word, Sabatikos, which means ‘of the sabbath’ in reference to the day of rest on the 7th day.
For this type of rest, a person will take a year off of work with pay. There are academic positions where a paid sabbatical is given and other industries have fallen suit as well. In the tech world, some companies give a person an option of a 6-month sabbatical that is paid. And they will often pay for the trip as well, especially if it is tied to doing research for the company. It gives that employee an opportunity to take dedicated time to rejuvenate their creativity and return to work with renewed zeal.
6. Eternal Rest
When a person dies, sometimes you will hear people say that he or she was laid to rest on a certain date. This means they are in a restful state after this life. Life on earth is not easy and our bodies start to deteriorate. And when a person dies as a result of some type of disease, we are thankful that they are no longer in pain.
Eternal is the key
While that is true they aren’t in pain when they initially leave this earth, the keyword in this type of rest is eternal. The afterlife can be a life free of pain and filled with joy in the presence of God in heaven. It is a rewarding rest from their labors.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
But those who are disobedient in this life to God’s laws and do not accept His gift of eternal life, they spend eternity in hell. And this place is filled with torment day and night. They leave the pain in this world and suffer more pain for an eternity.
And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
Accepting Christ as your Savior is essential for getting into heaven. You can’t work your way in (Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV). You can know the Peace of God today.
End Times Note:
These verses from Revelation are a prophecy for what is coming ahead in the end times of this world. Even though these refer to believers and unbelievers in the future, they describe what heaven and hell will be like. And this is what all people will experience after death – those who believe and those who do not believe.
My focus is not Biblical prophecy. But there are resources out there to learn about it. And if you need more information about understanding prophecy and what is to come, check out this site, Olive Tree Ministries. Jan Markell does a great job in explaining what is to come and interviews knowledgeable guests on her podcast.
A Break from Work – A Biblical Example & the Benefit
Jesus sent the 12 disciples out on an assignment. They were to spend time preaching about repentance, casting out demons, and healing the sick. He had given them the authority over unclean spirits to do this work. The scripture isn’t specific about how long they were gone. But they were to take nothing with them except for the clothes on their back, their sandals on their feet, and their staff (Mark 6:7-13 ESV).
And when they returned, they filled Jesus in on the details of their journeys. Then He said,
“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest awhile.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
Mark 6:31 ESV
So they did. They went to a desolate place. Not my idea of a vacation. But the point was to get to a deserted place where there were very few people. They need was for quiet and rest to recharge.
The Work wasn’t Finished
However, the people followed them and some ran ahead of them. When Jesus saw them on the shore, He had compassion for them and began to teach them. He must have preached long that day because the disciples came to him and said the people need to leave to go get food.
Then Jesus told them to feed the people. The disciples must have been tired from their journey. They got hung up on how much it would cost – about 200 days’ worth of wages.
Jesus said this to see what they had learned from their work in the field. If they had been performing miracles, they could have broken the bread and fish to feed the many people.
Yet Jesus prayed before the meal and performed the miracle of feeding the 5000 people. And there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. Everyone ate the food and was satisfied (Mark 6:30-44 ESV).
The Benefits
Jesus knew the value of rest from performing all types of miracles and preaching all day. And there was a need to reduce the stress from their work and travel.
However, sometimes you don’t get to rest right away and the work needs to continue. When that happens, God will provide what you need. And in this case, it will be a miracle.
It will be your customer or client who will benefit the most and be satisfied. And when you take that much-needed rest, you will rest satisfied. Because you stepped up and went the extra mile to be compassionate and care for the needs of your customer.
A Break from Work Summary
When you need to take a break, do it. It can be a short break. Or it can be a longer break, like a vacation. And then there is the Sabbath rest on Sundays. Or even the eternal rest for all of eternity.
Whatever the type of rest you do here on earth, be sure to use that break to rejuvenate both your mind, body, and soul.
And I urge you if you haven’t made a decision about your eternal rest check out the Know Peace page. That is a rest that you do not want to miss! Even though that rest comes after you die, you have many blessings here on earth from making that decision. And it will make the world of difference while you hang out here on earth in the meantime.
*******
Resource Library
There are Bible resource reading plans and other resources in the library to enjoy. You can download them today!
