Three days last week I was in so much pain I couldn't get anything done. I missed appointments because I was hurting so bad. I went to volunteer but couldn't stay my whole shift because my back kept going into muscle spasms.
Back on May 14th, I was in a car wreck. The hospital did a CT scan and told me they didn't see anything except a few nodules.
When we got back from Colorado, I was still having trouble breathing, so I went to a different emergency room. They did another CT scan and found what the first hospital had missed—a broken rib and a broken sternum.
I kept telling myself everything would be okay. I figured I just needed time to heal. But as the weeks went on, I could barely move. The muscles in my neck swelled up, my entire left side hurt, and all I wanted to do was sleep. Every time I went back, I kept hearing the same thing: "It's just muscle pain."
If you know me, you know I don't like sitting still. I like staying busy. I like moving forward. This week, though, my body made the decision for me. I barely drank coffee. I hardly ate. I was completely out of my normal routine.
The only real relief I found came when my sister came over. She rubbed my back with a salve she had made, wrapped my ribs tightly, and then she prayed over me.
The next morning, I woke up feeling better than I had in days.
This week reminded me of two important things.
First, life doesn't stop just because I'm hurting or tired. Bills still have to be paid. Responsibilities are still there. The world keeps moving.
Second, I have to listen when people tell me to slow down. Rest isn't something to feel guilty about. Sometimes it's exactly what your body—and your soul—need.
I spend a lot of time encouraging other people to keep going through difficult seasons. This week, God reminded me that sometimes "keep going" doesn't mean pushing harder.
Sometimes it means resting so you can keep going tomorrow.
Takeaway: Rest is productive when it prepares you to keep going.