Lessons Learned on the Road - Rest Days Fuel Your Run

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

Psalm 62:1

It's week 5 of my 18 week marathon training schedule. Each mile draws the starting line a bit closer. Four days a week I run. I run in heat, rain and humidity and I run whether or not I feel like it. Tenacity plays a big role in my training. Tenacity logs the miles so I can go the distance on marathon day. 

But there is an element of my schedule that's just as essential. These days are not marked in numbers but in words. Rest. They beckon my heart to sleep, calm and recovery. Rest is vital to my ability to run and particularly important to keeping me injury free.

Tenacity plays a big role in my life as well. I decide to stay married on the hard days. I choose to do dishes, carpool kids and wash clothes when I'd prefer to go window shopping. Tenacity prepares my heart to go the distance.

But rest is equally important. My ability to hold my tongue, my temper and my thoughts increases in direct proportion to rest. Rest keeps my relationships injury free.

So how can we make rest a high priority? Here's a couple of ideas:

1. Go Offline - Some weekends I choose to be social media free. I have to unplug to fully unwind. I need to take out the noise to clearly hear Him.

2. Go Outside - I love to swim, take the kids to the park or on a bike ride. Fresh air delivers fresh perspective. Something about removing physical barriers demolishes the spiritual barriers in my life as well.

3. Go On Adventure - I believe God pre-wired humans with a piece of His creativity. We were made to learn and experience. Reading a new book, visiting a new town or meeting a new person can put our hearts at rest by filling our desire for creativity.

We all run in more directions we can count. We log innumerable miles on each of life's days. If we're going to reach the finish line, we need ample amounts of tenacity and rest. 

So today, don't run with me. Rest with me instead.