What is rest? What does it look like—especially for those of us whose personal lives blend right into our work/ministry lives? How can we tell if we’re just exhausted or if we’ve tipped over into burnout or depression? These are a few of the questions we discuss in this second segment of “do’s and don’ts.” Don’t forget to check out our show notes for this episode for additional resources when it comes to rest.

Connect with us!
 Denise
 Melissa
Alicia

Questions discussed in this episode: 

What is rest?

What does it look like?

What is it not?

Noteworthy Quotes:

“We live in some pretty stressful situations, some unusual situations, and sometimes we can neglect ourselves and our needs.” — Melissa

“I think where I get it wrong sometimes is not having a clear understanding of what rest is and what it looks like.” — Alicia

“Rest should look like the opposite of what your work days look like.” — Alicia

“Consider rest to be more of a state of mind. I could be in the most tranquil place on earth—but if my mind is troubled or I’m stressed about something, no matter where I am, those thoughts are not going to rest.” — Melissa

“Know the difference between ordinary exhaustion, depression, and burnout—because those are three different things.” — Denise

“Sometimes we have to adjust our expectations and what it looks like to feel rested. Seasons of life change and so we need to adjust and recalibrate, too.” — Alicia

“Rest doesn’t have to be a big production. It can be simple.” — Melissa

“When we think about rest, cross-culturally, sometimes the boundaries you set for yourself are going to look crazy and unlike anything your host country has ever seen before. But our loyalty is not always to a culture and being culturally appropriate, our loyalty is to God’s Word and what He asks of us.” — Alicia

“Sometimes I get this crazy dream that I just drive off in my car, but you can travel on ten thousand miles and still say where you are.” — lyrics from the song, “W.O.L.D.” by Harry Chapin

Mentioned in Episode:

The song “W.O.L.D.” by Harry Chapin

Do you think you are struggling with burnout? Take a look at this inventory.

“Depression, Stress, and Burnout: What’s Going On in My Life?” — this document is 11 pages, but it has a great comparison between depression and burnout.

Check our shop for language resources!

Related Episodes and Articles:

The Benefit of a Good Cry by Christi Chu

11 Ideas for Scheduling Margin in Your Expat Life Emily Jackson

Podcast Episode: Tending to Your Heart and Soul While Living Abroad with Danielle Wheeler

Podcast Episode: Committing to What Matters Most with Gloria Furman

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Show credits: 

Hosted by Denise James, Alicia Boyce, and Melissa Faraday // produced and edited by Melissa Faraday // content managed by Alicia Boyce.

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