By Chuck Swindoll, senior pastor

It makes no difference where we live, summer is easy livin'! From the windswept hills of Tennessee to the craggy shoreline of Oregon . . . from the surfers off Santa Barbara to the racers in Indianapolis, when it's summertime, it's vacation time—a long-awaited and much-needed season of relaxation and rest.

Speaking of rest, have you been doing much of it lately? Or is that resistance I'm feeling from you? Sure is easy to keep putting off this small thing called "rest," isn't it? After all, there's a job to be done. And your to-do list isn't accomplished, and there are a lot of people depending on you. And this is a stressful, unpredictable time. And . . . and . . . yes, I know, I know. You want to know how I know? I hear those same messages inside my head. Being a high achiever, work-ethic type myself, I've been beating that drum for over half a century. But I can no longer ignore the necessity of the summer season in my life   . . . nor can you, friend.

If God considered this planet needed several months of summer, it stands to reason that His people are equally in need of refreshment and rest. He even says so: "There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest . . ." (Hebrews 4:9-11a). This summer, take some time to rest, spend time with your family, friends, and foremost with God.