In Mark 6:30-33 it tells of a time when the apostles gathered with Jesus to report what they had done and taught. And after that report, Jesus said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while."
Do you hear the emotion in Jesus' words..."come away and rest a while..."
It sounds like tenderness. It sounds like a sensitive sweetness.
Have you been working hard?
Do you have lots of stuff going on and can't seem to keep up...piles of struggles and questions about a positive future, and no matter what you do, it doesn't seem like enough?
Or maybe you've been working hard for Jesus? Multiple things to do because you want to, or there aren't enough people to help...plus lots of people to reach out to with real needs?
Working doesn't mean anything bad...working can be good...but we do get tired...we're human, after all.
When Jesus calls us to work for Him, He does so because He knows it is good for us to have a purpose-a mission-and He wants us working for Him to grow His Kingdom. Working for Him is also about having fun and fulfilling that creative part of us that comes from the God who created us...and that creativity is exuded in the way we work for Him...
But He also calls us to rest...to cease awhile...just like He called the disciples to do.
Have you avoided scheduling "you time" to rest because you feel you don't have time, or you feel you would feel guilting for doing that.
When was the last time you stopped for 10 minutes to do nothing? When was the last time you took a walk without a dog, a friend, or a cell phone just to be alone with God?
Truth is, we often don't think about doing those things because we think we should be doing more...something that others would judge as important...but that's when the drudgery sets in.
In this passage in Mark 6 it says that the apostles did not even have time to eat so they went away in the boat to a secluded place by themselves.
Jesus was always with people, but He, too, took Himself away to rest and pray.
There's a miracle waiting to happen for you, just by trusting in Jesus' example to pull away to rest.
Today, take a little time away, in a secluded place, to rest...to pray...to sleep...to do nothing...to dream...to play...just with you and your loving Lord.
Start with 10 minutes, then 20, then 30, then maybe an hour...
It may feel foreign, but just try it...you'll start to see how much you need to do it....and eventually, you'll begin to seek it, frequently, throughout the day...
Let Jesus take you there, and let Him sooth and comfort you.
Let Him fill you up...and if it leads to a nap, enjoy it! You probably need it.
Something miraculous happens when you steel away some time with Jesus to find comfort in Him....yes, you come back stronger!
You come back renewed, energized to take on the things that God has given you to do...
Imagine knowing that working for Jesus gives you energy, and resting with Jesus gives you energy...that sounds like a perfect day!
