“And He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)” – Mark 6:31
For me, the most difficult part of mothering infants involved sleep deprivation. Oh, how I loved my sweet babies – and still do – they’re just not babies anymore! But waking up night after night really wore me out. Even so, there remained laundry to wash, meals to prepare, and the countless responsibilities that accompany motherhood. I had to keep on keeping on … exhausted or not.
Busy. Busy. Busy.
I remember …
- a friend once telling me she wished her family would go away for the weekend and leave her at home. She just wanted to enjoy the peaceful quietness of her own home.
- being so tired that my mind struggled to decipher a situation but felt trapped in a fog.
- hiking for seven miles and longing for rest. (I’m not an athlete!)
From the beginning of time, God has promoted this principle of rest. In fact, He Himself rested on the seventh day after He completed all His creation work (see Genesis 2:2). Jesus, during His earthly life, also promoted rest because He recognized its importance. He compassionately encouraged His disciples to take a break for the sole purpose of resting. They had been so busy alongside Him they hadn’t even eaten.
We’ve all been there … maybe we’re in that place right now. Especially here in America, where work is often put on a pedestal. I heard an interesting quote the other day: “Americans live to work, but (we) work to live.” Where do each of us fit into that statement?
God values rest … and so should we. Though there are many days and weeks when work continues non-stop, we must follow our Lord’s advice and get. some. rest. Not only will we be glad we did – those around us will be grateful as well! Most significantly, rest enables us to hear God’s voice more clearly and refreshes us to serve Him more effectively.
Instead of dreaming about vacation, let’s take a mini one today! Whether it’s one hour or one day, rest is a sweet gift from God that helps us find His order for our hectic lives.
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” (or waters of rest according to note in Bible margin) – Psalm 23:1-2
