Rest Isn’t a Reward, It’s a Weapon

We don’t usually say it out loud, but it’s there…
That subtle whisper that tells us, “If I really cared, I wouldn’t rest.”
“If this is about the Gospel, then self-care is selfish.”
“I’ll slow down when the work is done.”

Here’s the problem… Kingdom work is never “done.”
So we sprint, we stretch, we sacrifice.
Until something starts to break.
And here’s the kicker… most of us don’t even see it happening, because we’ve spiritualized the grind.

I Thought I Was Stronger Than Burnout

I was on a mission sprint… California to Oahu to Melbourne, and back in seven days.
The trip was full of purpose.
I was surrounded by amazing people.
And I could feel the call of God on every part of it.

But I also felt something else… tired.

Not just “need-a-nap” tired, soul tired.
Even surrounded by passion and purpose, I was slowly disconnecting from the joy of it all.
The “yes” was still in my mouth, but it wasn’t as alive in my heart.

Then God Met Me in a Garage Full of Surfboards

Halfway through the trip, I was sitting in our host’s kitchen in Melbourne, sipping a flat white, slow and unhurried, while his kids ran around the room.
I had brought a wetsuit but no board, so I asked if they had a spare.

He smiled, walked me into the garage, and said, “Take any one you want.”
There were over 30 surfboards lined up.

Two hours later, I was paddling out at Point Impossible… salt in my hair, joy in my soul.
I was still on mission, but something shifted.
I wasn’t muscling through it anymore… I was present again.

We Ministered That Night for Hours, and It Was Easy

Back at the house, our host handed us warm bowls of homemade pumpkin soup.
Then we drove five hours to a church and prayed for people until midnight.
There were still 150 people in line… and I wasn’t running on fumes.

I was full.
Full of joy, full of energy, full of God.

That’s when it clicked… I can give more of the Kingdom when I let the Kingdom give more to me.

It was the over-the-top hospitality, the simple moments of rest, connection, and beauty, that made it all possible.

What If Rest Isn’t a Side Dish, but the Strategy?

Jesus wasn’t afraid of rest.
He often withdrew to lonely places.
He took naps in storms.
He ate with friends.
He climbed mountains… not to preach, but to pray.

Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing the cross was hours away, He told the disciples,
“Sit here while I go over there and pray.” (Matthew 26:36)

Rest wasn’t retreat, it was preparation.
It was alignment.
It was obedience.

So why do we treat it like a guilty indulgence?

The Lie We Believe

We’ve picked up this idea…
If it doesn’t directly serve the mission, it’s a waste.

So we skip sleep, skip meals, skip the hike, the surf session, the slow cup of coffee…
All to prove our dedication.

But what if skipping those things is the very reason we feel dry? 

What if denying ourselves joy is actually denying the Holy Spirit a place to move?

Grinding doesn’t equal faithfulness… sometimes it just equals control.
And God doesn’t need us to grind for Him… He invites us to flow with Him.

Rest Is a Form of Faith

It feels risky… like stepping away from the wheel.
But that’s the point.

It says, “God, I trust that my presence with You is more powerful than my productivity for You.”
It refuses to burn out just to look brave.
It lets joy re-enter the process, because joy isn’t weakness… it’s strength.
(Nehemiah 8:10)

Invest in Rest, Multiply the Mission

Sometimes the most strategic thing you can do for the people you're serving is go surf.
Or take a nap.
Or eat well.
Or laugh with your host family until the fruit bowl is empty.

Because when you’re full… spiritually, emotionally, physically…
You minister from overflow, not obligation.

That’s not wasteful, that’s wisdom.
That’s the Kingdom.

At Rally Point Network, we’re building sanctuaries where this kind of rest is normal… even expected.
Homes where missionaries can reset, connect with God, and recover the joy of their “yes.”

If that vision stirs something in you, maybe it’s not just for reading.
Maybe it’s for partnering.

Because rest isn’t a luxury for the few…
It’s a weapon for those who keep showing up.