Everyone needs rest and relaxation every now and then. No matter how busy we get with schedules, work, school, friends and family demands or church involvement, we need to take quality time for ourselves to get rejuvenated. If we don’t, we can actually become burnt out on life and be rather cranky! Then we are no good to anyone. The Bible says, “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31 NLT). Jesus even knew the importance of rest. He was showing His disciples that they could not possibly be any earthly good if they did not fill up their depleted energy levels by disappearing to a quiet place!
It’s interesting that the word “RESTORE” has the entire word “REST” in it. When we give ourselves the sleep and time off our bodies crave, we will have the emotional, mental and physical strength required to face the challenges of each day.
Again, the Bible says, “One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles” (Luke 6:12-13 NLT). In this passage, Jesus went away to get rest and sought His Father in Heaven. He knew it was important to take time off from the hectic demands of life and gain instructions from God. And, it was during this time He gained the wisdom to pick the right 12 to be His Apostles! In other words, after resting and spending time with His Heavenly Father, He was able to clearly hear from Him so He could accomplish His next task!
If we are too busy, we can easily miss God and His plan, and unfortunately many do. The Scriptures teach us that when we stay connected to the Vine we will bear much fruit, but if we get severed from the Vine, we can do nothing (John 15:1-4). How do we quit bearing good fruit? We stop producing good quality fruit when we quit spending regular time alone with God and getting our needed rest!
Carve some time out from your hectic schedule and relax…spend time with God. He longs to be close to you and show you things you do not know. The Bible says, “Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand)” (Jeremiah 33:3 AMP).
If the events in our lives are too demanding, we will end up completely depleted of energy and it will be hard to focus on which way is up or down!
I want to encourage you to go away for a weekend and do something you really enjoy, read a good book or go on a hike. Take a vacation or plan half a day off of work and visit a friend that is enjoyable to be around. The point is to find something that allows you to get reenergized. Take some time to hear from God too. Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28). God is ever ready to breathe new life into you, but in order for Him to do this, you have to draw near to Him!
Are you stressed out or too tired to function correctly? Follow these simple suggestions and you will see God bring refreshing rain to the parched areas of your life like plants that have received a recent rain in the desert wilderness.
