Why Rest Makes You Stronger

LISTEN TO DEVOTIONAL

Would you like to know how a world-famous athlete keeps amazing the world decade after decade?

At over 40 years old, NBA superstar, LeBron James credits his consistent longevity and incredible success—not to doing more, but to rest. “Sleep is by far the greatest tool for recovery,” James says, “99% of your recovery is sleep.”[1]

Maybe you’re not a professional athlete … or an athlete of any kind, but you’re constantly in motion. Any time you stop, the phone comes out, the to-do list grows longer, and anytime you rest, you feel like you’re being lazy.

We often bring restlessness into our relationship with God, believing He’s most pleased when we’re constantly doing. But God’s invitation is different. He says, “In quietness and confidence is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). It’s about making space—ten minutes in Scripture before the day begins, a silent walk with the noise turned off, a whispered prayer in the middle of chaos.

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: “Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

Jesus Christ never just kept on going, running Himself ragged. Crowds pressed in, people begged for His attention, yet the Bible says He often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He once napped in a boat (Mark 4:38). He didn’t see rest and solitude as wasted time—it provided essential strength for the work ahead.

In stillness, God reminds us: You are loved—not for what you accomplish, but because you are mine. It’s been said, “We are not what we do. We are not what we have. We are not what people say about us. We are the beloved of God.”[2]

BONNIE SALA | President, Guidelines

It is Bonnie Sala’s joy to lead Guidelines in its second generation as its President. Bonnie is passionate about sharing the ministry’s devotionals around the world with those who are unreached, new to Christianity or living under persecution. An enthusiastic cultivator of partnership, she has led Guidelines’ substantial international expansion. Bonnie writes and hosts “Reset with Bonnie Sala” and is an author and speaker. She has two adult sons and enjoys traveling anywhere with her husband, Kevin Condrin.

Read more of Bonnie’s articles HERE!

[1] “LeBron James Reveals Longevity Secrets, Most Crucial Part of His Recovery,” BasketNews, April 8, 2025, accessed January 6, 2026, https://basketnews.com/news-222562-lebron-james-nba-recovery-sleep-longevity-tips.html.

[2] Henri J. M. Nouwen, Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World (New York: Crossroad, 1992), 25.