WRITTEN BY CHERYL NEMBHARD

As our world continues to increase its pace and drive, we find ourselves in the race of our lives… trying desperately to keep up, to achieve, to not miss out on anything. Sadly, for so many of us, the word ‘rest’ has become a four-letter swear word.

In a society that glorifies busyness and productivity, the idea of rest is looked down on or dismissed as a waste of time. We find ourselves, like the hamster in the wheel, in a relentless cycle of work, busyness, and achievements. Not only does overwork become our norm, but it becomes our identity.

In order to feel valuable, useful, and relevant, we find ourselves equating our lives with what we do, rather than who we are.

Breaking Free from the Hustle

Work and busyness have become our rhythm, and our identity has become intertwined with our achievements.

For so much of my life, this was me. I was on that wheel, desperately driving harder and harder towards a finish line that never materialized. In fact, it wasn’t until this summer, as I was recovering from surgery, that the dots finally connected for me.

This current high-octane pace I was moving at was not God’s plan for my life. Something had to change.

Work and busyness have become our rhythm, and our identity has become intertwined with our achievements.

What seemed, at first, like a painful, slow season of recovery, has turned out to be one of the greatest gifts in my life this year.

My prayer is that we would all begin to see rest as an act of resistance against the pressures and expectations that threaten our mental and physical well-being. Rest isn’t just a break from activities; it is an act of defiance against a culture that disregards the importance of self-care.

By making rest a priority, we resist the hustle and reclaim the stillness and sacredness of rest.

Rest as resistance means we no longer draw our identity from our doing, but find fulfillment in our being.

5 Ways to Engage Rest as Resistance

Here are five ways we can continue to push back on hustle culture and ensure more rest in our lives:

Set Boundaries:
Establish clear boundaries between work and personal time and unapologetically protect your need for down time.
Digital Detox:
Take regular breaks from all digital devices and social media.
Physical Activity:
Exercise not only benefits your physical health, but also promotes mental well-being.
Prioritize Sleep:
Our bodies recuperate and renew as we sleep. Rest is vital to our overall well-being.
Unplug on Weekends:
Designate a weekend each month to go device-free or take occasional weekends away from the noise to recharge and replenish.

Finding Rest In Him

As you continue to intentionally carve out spaces of rest in your own life, remember that rest is not a luxury, it is a necessity. To embrace rest as resistance is to become advocates for our own well-being, rejecting hustle culture and its damaging effects on ourselves and society.

This week, I pray that you will continually be reminded that your identity is not grounded in what you have accomplished, but is secure in the truth that, above all else, you are a child of God—loved and accepted for who you are, not for what you do.

May that understanding be a deep comfort to you, friend…as You rest in Him.

**About the Author**

**Cheryl Nembhard** is a dynamic international speaker, author, podcast/tv host, justice advocate, and certified life coach. She is co-host of 'See, Hear, Love', a nationally televised women's talk show, and host of 'On The Path w/ Cheryl Nembhard', which can be found on YES TV and all podcast platforms. Cheryl is the Director of the Women Speakers Collective and the Founder of ***The Lighthouse Project***, a faith-based, 10-week online emotional healing program. Learn more at **cherylnembhard.com**.

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