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This blog is based on a recent article I read that made me stop and think:

“What many ministers don’t realize is that food does not replace nervous energy – only sleep does. By sleeping for fifteen minutes first, they would eat less afterward. This practice has helped me maintain my weight and my energy levels so I can continue intense ministry as counselor and chaplain at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

That line hit me. How often do we eat when what we really need is rest?

For many of us, especially in business and leadership, we confuse exhaustion with hunger. We grab a snack, a coffee, or something sweet hoping it will recharge us, when in reality, our bodies (and our minds) are just asking for rest.

Sleep: God’s Built-In Reset

Psalm 127:2 reminds us:

“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat— for he grants sleep to those he loves.”

Sleep is God’s natural way of restoring our energy and renewing our focus. A short nap or even just fifteen minutes of quiet rest can do more to settle your nerves, improve your clarity, and restore your energy than a plate of food ever will.

The Insurance Agency Lesson

Running an agency can feel like you’re “always on.” Calls, emails, carrier changes, quoting, renewals, hiring, client issues—the list never ends. When you’re tired, the temptation is to push through with coffee or sugar. But just like the devotional reminded me, nervous energy doesn’t need food—it needs rest.

Imagine this in your agency:

• Before meeting with a frustrated client, step away for ten minutes to clear your head.
• Before quoting a complicated policy, pause for a short rest so you come back focused.
• Before your weekly team meeting, give yourself a moment of quiet so you lead with clarity instead of fatigue.

Leadership Wisdom from Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel often says, “You can have control or you can have growth, but you can’t have both.”

What he means is this: if you insist on personally controlling every detail, your agency will only grow as far as you can stretch. But if you’re willing to let go—empowering your team, delegating responsibility, and trusting others—you create space for growth far beyond your own capacity.

The same is true with rest. When you refuse to pause, you may feel “in control,” but you’ll eventually hit a wall. When you give yourself permission to rest, even briefly, you come back refreshed and ready to lead with clarity. And when you combine that with trusting your team, your agency can grow in ways you never imagined.

A Well-Known Example

Winston Churchill, known for his relentless work during World War II, swore by daily naps. He believed that taking a short rest in the afternoon gave him “two days in one”—fresh energy and sharper thinking to carry him late into the night when decisions mattered most. What some might have considered laziness was actually one of his greatest productivity tools.

If naps could help a wartime prime minister make wise decisions under immense pressure, surely a 15-minute break could help us make better decisions for our agencies and our clients.

Encouragement for the Journey

The next time you feel drained and tempted to grab something to eat or power through fatigue at your agency, ask yourself: Do I need food—or do I need rest?

You might be surprised how often the answer is rest. And in that pause, you’ll find not only renewed energy, but also God’s peace—and your best leadership for your agency team and clients.