Relationships: An Untapped Remedy for Exhaustion
By Justin Pratt, Clear Springs Baptist Church Senior Pastor
It was a busy Wednesday afternoon when Eli, a young professional, sat at his desk, feeling exhausted from a never-ending cycle of meetings, emails and deadlines. He had heard time and again about the importance of taking breaks and prioritizing self-care, but nothing seemed to fill the void he felt. He had tried a weekend at the lake, a day on the golf course and even a good night’s rest, but none of these brought him the peace he was seeking.
One evening, after a particularly overwhelming day at the office, Eli sat down with an old friend. As they talked about the challenges of life and work, his friend shared how he had been finding rest, not in isolation, but in the relationships around him. He explained that rest wasn’t about retreating from the world, but rather about connecting with people whom God uses to restore the soul. In that moment, an overworked and exhausted Eli began to wonder if the rest he was seeking might not be found in the quiet refuge of his bedroom or on a vacation, but in the shared moments of joy, encouragement, refreshment and vulnerability with a friend.
This made-up story portrays a simple truth: relationships are often the rest we need. In a world that is always demanding more—more productivity, success, money and hours at work—we often hear within us the call for rest. Yet, in the rush for retreat, we often overlook something far more crucial: the need for meaningful human relationships.
Hidden within just a few verses of the New Testament (2 Timothy 1:16-18), the Apostle Paul writes, “The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me.” We don’t hear much about Onesiphorus, but towards the end of Paul’s life, he desires a special blessing for the times Onesiphorus provided him with emotional, physical, and spiritual support during difficult and exhausting times. The phrase “refreshed me” indicates that this support was deep and meaningful, highlighting the importance of human relationships and true friendship as sources of relief. These verses serve as a powerful reminder that in our busy lives, we often forget that our deepest needs aren’t always met by mere rest; they are fulfilled by feeling seen, heard, and loved by others. True rest begins when we prioritize connection over the constant pursuit of solitude and separation.
We all need to remember that finding rest does not always mean retreating into solitude. True refreshment often comes from the relationships that bring life to us. I am particularly grateful for the friends who nourish my spirit. As the Bible reminds us, “iron sharpens iron” (Proverbs 27:17), and “ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9). Relationships are one of the essential components that make life meaningful.
In life, I have come to realize that the rest I often long for isn’t found in the absence of activity; it’s found in the presence of people who bring me joy, friendship, and support. Sometimes, a night out to dinner, a few minutes conversing on a porch, or just laughing over ice cream is exactly what we need to quiet our souls. I recently read in a Vanderbloemen survey that, “the most powerful antidote to burnout wasn’t more rest – it was more relationships.” The need for rest is real, but the need for a relationship, a true, meaningful connection, is even more vital. And it’s time we begin to embrace this truth. Relationships with the people God gives you are a great remedy for exhaustion.
