Why Athletes Need Rest Days

Athletes are often pushed to the brink with grueling practices, travel schedules, schoolwork, off-season training and a constant pressure to reach peak performance. They push their bodies during training and competition, which is why rest days to recover are so important. It’s necessary to allow our physical bodies time to rest and replenish. 

But did you know that rest is for more than just our physical bodies? Rest is what’s truly needed for the athlete who’s on the brink of mental, emotional and/or spiritual exhaustion.

Jesus extends an invitation to get away with Him, to step back and recognize what’s most important.   

The Gospel of Mark shares the words of Jesus as He challenged His physically exhausted followers to shift their ways and try something new:

“… Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” -Mark 6:31a

Jesus begins with the instruction to change locations, to get away to a place without distractions. A quiet, remote place leaves us exposed to God, where we can hear His voice and give Him a greater ability to nurture our heart and mind. Jesus also gives us the command to rest in that space. Rest brings relaxing refreshment and the recovery of our strength. 

After time away of true rest, we can come back and be restored to a regular level of activity. Balanced health grants opportunity to not only perform well in all spaces, but it grants greater capacity for relationships with our family, work and sport. As we compete and serve our teams, there is an opportunity to model health in all areas of life. 

The word “rest” is part of the word “restore.” To rest means you cease work, relax, refresh yourself and recover strength. To restore means to renew, to re-establish, bring back into use. To be restored, we must enter into rest. There is power in slowing down and trusting God to handle things while you set aside a time to rest. 

Are you personally experiencing weariness in body, mind or soul? What is the first step you can take today to step away from the chaos of culture’s fast pace and pursue rest?   

Consider planning for the following areas: physical, spiritual, emotional and sensory rest. Explore opportunities for regular rhythms of rest in these areas by setting aside time on your calendar each week and for extended times each season. This time may include enjoying sport without competition, getting outside and exploring nature, reading for pleasure, seeking out time for meaningful relationships or shutting down technology. 

After intentional rest, take time to realign your priorities to avoid exhaustion and burnout. Consider your daily schedule and prioritize time to seek God first in the form of Bible reading and prayer. 

The Bible encourages “whatever is true...honorable...just...pure...lovely... commendable, if there is any excellence...anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8). Direct your thoughts towards God and His goodness. Allow Him to cleanse your mind and receive mental rest. Take a walk. Spend time with your loved ones. Paint something. Or, just spend a few moments with your eyes closed, slowing down your thoughts and thanking God for His provision. Do whatever will calm your spirit and give God a chance to meet you in the middle of a busy day.

God created you not just to recuperate from fatigue, but to enjoy His creation and spend quality time with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Honor the Lord, seek intentional time away just between you and Him, and revive your body, mind and spirit by giving it the deep and lasting rest it needs. 

LIVE IT OUT

Theme Verse: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” - Romans 15:13

Quarter Verse: “Stop fighting, and know that I am God,
exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.” – Psalm 46:10

Question: How have you been treating your mind, body and soul? Are they exhausted and in need of rest? 

Challenge: Take time to recuperate today. Close your eyes for a few minutes, put on some calming music, take a walk—whatever is going to help you calm your spirit and be still with the Lord.

CTA: Want a deeper look into rest? Sign up to receive FCA devotions delivered to your inbox every day and take time to learn what God wants to speak to you about each day: FCA Daily Impact Play