rebelling against low expectations

TagRest

Are You Heavy Laden? Unpack God’s Promise of Rest

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“I can’t believe how light I feel.” These words were spoken to me by one of my co-workers after she found out that her sister’s cancer had been most likely completely removed. It had been burdening her for months. Burdens can weigh us down more than we know. They can come out of nowhere, or they can gradually build. Still, being “heavy laden” is more common to our shoulders than we might realize...

To the Exhausted, Weary Rebelutionary: There’s Strength for Your Weakness

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Your head rests on your desk. Bags under your eyes indicate lack of sleep. Tears spill out of your closed eyelids, and for a moment, all you can think about is your exhaustion. You’re so tired you can barely function. Whether it’s due to stress, anxiety, or illness, exhaustion is a heavy enemy. We fight it, but eventually, it overtakes us, hurting us and the people in our lives. Your life is so...

Searching for Rest in a Nonstop World

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Dear Friend, You have a heart for big things. You are a hard worker, and you’re proud of that. And honestly, it’s gotten you places – it’s paid off. It shows in your passion, your integrity, and the way people admire you for working so diligently at the things you care about. In fact, you are a rebelutionary – you’ve done hard things, and you’re still doing hard things… … and you are tired. On...

The Unconditional, Undeserved Love of God

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When we were younger, my sister would copy various poems and quotes and pin them on a cork board in our room. I remember one quote in particular that read, “love is a choice, not a feeling”. Those words stuck with me and left me wondering if love really could be a choice. At the time I didn’t think so. The love I knew was very emotional and very conditional. It was always, “I love you if__.” In...

When Life Happens and You’re Tired — Look Up

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“Jesus, I love You…but I’m tired,” Dad sighed, leaning against his headrest, as we sat in our Landcruiser about to head into town. I bit back a smile at the words, so simple, yet so raw and real and honest. We were preparing to run some errands, and already the day had been full of everyday, unpredictable, West-African adventures. The power had gone out not once, not twice, but three times. We...

Is the Sabbath Still Relevant to Christians?

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In a 24/7 world, it can be easy to overlook rest. We are constantly encouraged to multitask, consume large amounts of caffeine to maximize our buzz time, and calculate how to manipulate our circadian rhythm so we can give ourselves more hours each day to work. Even we, as Christians, get caught up in the world’s idea that we should always be working, and rest is a burden, not a blessing. But, are...

God Gives You Rest: Biblical Truth and Practical Tips for When You Just Can’t Fall Asleep

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Suddenly, I was wide awake. I stared at my bedroom clock. 1:30 AM. Again?! I had fallen asleep just two hours ago, and now I was wide awake. Was my body playing a cruel joke on me? I lay awake for hours, finally dozing off for a little bit before I had to get up at 6 am to get ready for work. As I dragged myself through my day, I desperately hoped that my struggle with insomnia would end soon...

Why This Sunday Should Be Restful (Instead of Stressful)

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I recently experienced a truly restful Sunday. I attended Sunday school and church, ate at a favorite restaurant with my family, literally rested (aka napped), read old issues of a Christian magazine, and played tennis outside. My day felt balanced, relaxing, and restful. Sure, I watched TV, checked my email, and did other typical daily activities. But, for the most part, I felt like I was able...

3 Steps to Find Rest In The Busyness of Life

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At the end of my 9th grade year, I was crushed. Not only was I busy staying caught up on homework and studying, but I also had started intense basketball training in the sixth grade. Homework, studying, and basketball consumed my free time. Overtime, the continual grind zapped my motivation and energy. Eventually, I became overwhelmed. Gradually, I entered into a struggle against excessive...

The Spiritual Ramifications of Self-Reliant Work

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The “gig economy”–a fancy tech term for an work that promotes flexibility–is growing rapidly. Think flexible income, flexible hours, and flexible forms of expression. Some 150 million workers in North America and Western Europe have dropped the “relatively stable confines of organizational life” to become independent contractors, according to a March-April Harvard Business...

rebelling against low expectations

The Rebelution is a teenage rebellion against low expectations—a worldwide campaign to reject apathy, embrace responsibility, and do hard things. Learn More →