On Exhaustion and the Role of Play in the Life of the Spirit.

“The Child of God should not mistake worn nerves, physical weakness, or depression for unspirituality.  Many times sleep is more needed than prayer, and physical recreation than heart-searching.  ...To ‘rest in the Lord’ is one of the essential victories of the spiritual life.  ‘Come ye yourselves apart... and rest awhile.’  The Child of God is just as spiritual when resting, playing, sleeping, or incapacitated, if it is His will for him, as he is when serving.”1 

“How misleading is the theory that to be spiritual one must abandon play, diversion and helpful amusement!  Such a conception of spirituality is born of a morbid human conscience.  It is foreign to the Word of God.  It is a device of Satan to make the blessings of God seem abhorrent to young people overflowing with physical life and energy.  It is to be regretted that there are those who in blindness are so emphasizing the negatives of the Truth [Legalists with their legalism.] that the impression is created that spirituality is opposed to joy, liberty and naturalness of expression in thought and life in the Spirit.  Spirituality is not a pious pose.  It is not a ‘Thou shall not;’ it is ‘Thou shalt.’  It flings open the doors into the eternal blessedness, energies and resources of God.  It is a serious thing to remove the element of relaxation and play from any life.  We cannot be normal physically, mentally or spiritually if we neglect this vital factor in human life.  God has provided that our joy shall be full.”2 

1 :  Lewis Sperry Chafer, Systematic Theology, Vol. VI, Pneumatology, p. 295

2 :  Chafer, He That Is Spiritual, pp. 60-61  {Italics Mine}

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