Take a Load Off

“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 ‭

It was great advice.

So I took it, of course.

It ran as follows: place a seating area in your garden. Otherwise, you’ll only go out there to work.

So determined was I to enjoy my garden as a place not only of work, but of leisure, I created no less than four seating areas.

I have a morning coffee spot. I have an evening thinking/planning/writing spot. I have a spot that is especially good in early spring – and even during the winter – for dreaming and surveying and warming up in the sunshine. I have a shady reading nook.

Each one is well used and lovingly cared for. Each one has brought solace to my spirit when the cares of life press in.

A quiet place.

We all need that. A place in which to unwind, recharge, be refreshed for the rigours of the journey.

And Jesus set a crucial precedent with His disciples in establishing regular times of quiet rest.

We have been designed to rest at regular intervals.

We need to eat. We need to sleep. We need to take a load off and sit once in a while. We need physical rest – but we also need mental, social, emotional and spiritual rejuvenation.

I want to remind you today to schedule restful activities into your busy day to ensure you have the resources to do what you were called and designed to do. Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place to get away from the constant demand on His resources. The needs around Him were vast – yet He still took the time to withdraw and spend time with His friends.

And His Father.

As a man, He needed the refreshment. As God, He had the wisdom to balance His needs with the needs around Him.

Do you need to take a load off?

You have the permission of heaven to take time for yourself. Busy mamas, don’t neglect your spirits. Busy wage earners, don’t skimp on self care. Make sure you balance work with fun activities! Busy care givers, make sure you get the rest your tired body and mind require. Busy spouses, make time for each other.

You will come back to your tasks with fresh perspective and fresh grace.

Balance your day with the right kind of rest with me?

Father, how grateful we are that Jesus set up such a strong work/life balance for us to imitate. Teach us to rest deeply. Bless us with the wisdom we need to build periods of rest into our schedules that will keep us vibrant and filled with joy and grace. Amen.