Runners and rest

Runners and rest

"By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from  the work of creating that he had done."  Genesis 2:2-3

I absolutely love to run!  Bet you could have never guessed that one huh?   I would run every day if I could. Up until recently, my goal was always to run 7 days a week-rain, snow, sleet or sunshine, I was hitting the road.  I almost felt guilty if I even thought about taking a day off.  Like me, most runners are type A so I know I'm not alone.   After battling some nagging injuries, I was forced to question my thoughts on rest days and God's purpose for giving them to us.

Everyone knows that God rested on the seventh day.  He created the earth and everything in it in six days and then rested. We can be sure that God was not tired from making the earth since He is all powerful and can do all things.  No. That wasn't His reason for resting.  He was doing it as an example for us to follow.  In this world where we are praised for our hard work and doing as much as possible, He knew we needed our bodies needed a day to rest and fellowship with Him.  After all He made us, shouldn't we trust that He knows what's best for our bodies? There's nothing God tells us to do that is not for our benefit.  Jesus led by example too when He told the disciples to "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place."  Mark 6:31-32.  If rest wasn't important, He would not have instructed the disciples to do so.

A study by runners.about.com says the following about rest days:  Most runners need at least one, even two, days off from running and other exercise. Research has shown that taking at least one day off a week reduces the frequency of overuse injuries, such as shin splints and stress fractures. Even the most elite runners take rest days, although rest days for them usually involve a low-impact cross-training activity, such as swimming. Those types of cross-training days are considered to be rest days because they give the joints and muscles you use in running a break.  http://running.about.com/od/injuryprevention/f/restdays.htm

As a Christian runner, it's even more important to take a day off from running.  By not obeying the command Christ has given us, we run the risk of elevating our running to a status above the One who created us to do it.  Running is our way to glorify Christ, it should not be a distraction from Him.  We should use that day to praise Him for the good things He has done in our lives.  Hebrews 4:9-10 says, "There remains then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God's rest also rests from their works." 

So take a day off every week.  Don't feel guilty or be anxious about it, instead enjoy it and thank Him for it. Rest, recover and replenish from the world.  By following His example, you'll be running better and stronger for it.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for reminding us that rest is important.  Help us to remember that running is a gift from you and you are the One to be glorified by it.  Please give us peace and direction during our times of rest when we focus our minds on you Lord.  In your precious name we pray Jesus, Amen.  

Happy Running!!!