Mandy giggled and said, “You’re supposed to be exhausted! You have three preschoolers.” But as she listened to her sister’s attempt to soothe her crying son and settle his two squealing siblings, she remembered what those days were like and rethought her response.

“Are you getting enough sleep?” Mandy asked gently.

“No,” Jan replied. “Like you said, I’m supposed to be exhausted.”

“I’m sorry for teasing you,” Mandy apologized. “I know when my two were little, I lived for nap time. Do you rest when they rest?”

“I feel guilty if I lie down in the middle of the day. There’s so much to be done before Jack gets home.”

Mandy understood her sister’s dilemma, but she also knew that physical and emotional exhaustion makes us vulnerable to Satan’s attacks. “Listen, you’re no good to anyone if you’re exhausted. Take a nap today, OK? Your family will benefit from having a well-rested wife and mom.”

Jesus knows what it is to grow weary. He spent His days traveling by foot, teaching His hungry disciples, confronting skeptics, and meeting the needs of hurting people. He also knows the importance of rest. Not only did God establish a day of rest for His people (Exod. 20:9–11), but Jesus also took time to rest from the activity of His day as He needed it (John 4:6).

Depending on the demands of your day, you may have difficulty getting the sleep your body requires. Ask God how you can change your schedule to get the amount of sleep you need, and commit to making rest a priority.