The past month has been pretty hectic.

Four weeks ago, I began packing my worldly goods and possessions for the five thousand-mile journey from Montevideo to Fort Wayne.

Three weeks ago, I arrived at my brother and sister-in-law’s home in Indiana, burdened with several suitcases and a dozen typewriter monkeys.

Since then, I’ve learned to drive, purchased a car, failed a driver’s test, done some author stuff, worked on my blogs, applied for jobs and busied myself with dozens of miscellaneous tasks, responsibilities, errands, duties, obligations, commitments and chores.

Until a few days ago, I kept myself almost constantly busy. I refused to give myself much time to relax. I told myself I didn’t need to rest, but to get everything done. When I had fulfilled my obligations—all of them—I could consider taking some time off.

Then, earlier this week, I stopped functioning.

I was paralyzed mentally, exhausted emotionally and tired physically. I couldn’t stay focused.

I had broken down.

At last, unable to work, I retreated to my bedroom with a cup of tea and a video game. For several hours, I set aside my self-imposed obligations and relaxed—and it was awesome.

That long rest was calming, refreshing and fun. Hour by hour, I could feel myself regaining my composure and focus.

I’ve attempted to cope with the stress and difficulty of the past few weeks by acting busy, trying to persuade myself that everything was under my control.

Everything is not under my control. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that everything is under God’s control.

He commands us to rest. It’s even one of the Ten Commandments: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work.”

We honor the Sabbath day by resting—trusting God to work things out instead of exhausting ourselves trying to keep everything under control.

The Lord Jesus himself said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

It is now my intention to drink some tea and play a video game.