Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Rachel’s Day
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Belong
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to All Daily Grace

Rest is important

8.13.2017
|
Daily Grace

To be strong and to get stronger, an athlete trains. The runner runs often and long. The weight lifter lifts increasingly heavier loads. This hard exercise is important but it can be overdone. In any physical exercise muscle is strained and actually torn down. The body needs a resting time to rebuild that strained and torn muscle. Resting and taking time off is key to building strength.

Like athletes, Christians also train. We are called to persevere in bearing one another’s burdens and loving one another. But like the over-trained athlete, we can overdo it. God does not ask us to carry our burdens all alone or all the time. God bids us to rest and let God carry our burdens so that we do not become spiritually worn out. Daily we need to rest in God and commit all to God’s care.

This message is based on a devotion, “Evening,” written by Jeanette B. Strandjord that appeared in Programs, Retreats and Devotions 2 published by Women of the ELCA in 1996. Today is the 10th Sunday after Pentecost. We remember Florence Nightingale, who died in 1910; and Clara Maass, who died in 1901; renewers of society. Do you enjoy these free Daily Grace messages? If so, donate now to further the ministry.

Share this post

Sign up for Daily Grace

Daily Grace is an on-the-go companion for your journey, offering a faith reflection every day. Encounter God’s extravagant, boundless and often surprising grace by signing up for a daily email message.

Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.