Jesus leads us to all kinds of places and spaces, one of those, I believe is seasons or periods of rest.  Take a look at this passage in Mark 6:30-31 “The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”  In this passage the disciples had just returned from a missionary journey.  Chapter 6:7-13 tells us about this journey. “He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts, but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt. He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”So they went out and preached that people should repent. They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.“. Upon returning from their journeys, Jesus knew they needed time to rest, reflect and process all that had happened. He calls them to come away and rest.

Rest is not a new idea. A quick review of the Bible will remind us that:

• In Genesis God rested on the seventh day.
• In Exodus He instituted the Sabbath-A day of rest.
• There are quite a few examples is Psalms: Leads me by still waters, makes me lie down in green pastures, be still, wait for the LORD, are just a few.
• Ecclesiastes tells us “sweet is the sleep of a laborer”
• In the new testament we see Jesus routinely going by Himself to a desolate place to pray and rest.

These are just a few examples that make the point that rest is an important and necessary part of our journey.  

Rest is a difficult thing for some us. We are naturally drawn to busyness and over commitment. We feel guilty for taking time away from work and ministry. I admit to being one of those people. Our family just returned from a short vacation. It was a long overdue and much needed time of rest. While we were out of town, I had to resist the urge to fill every second of our trip with activity and experiences. We’ve all been on those vacations where you go the entire time, coming home feeling more tired than when you left. And at times there is nothing wrong with adventures like that, but we also need times of real and actual rest. It would be easy to bogged down in the legalistic nature of this topic, but we all know when we need to rest and when we have done it.

We are human, our minds and bodies need time to rest and recuperate. It doesn’t make us weak or lazy.  We shouldn’t feel bad for taking time away from work or ministry. True rest can refill your tank, make you stronger, increase your focus, provide clarity and allow time for healing and reflection. Let me encourage you to make time, even if it’s only for a few hours, to get away by yourself and rest.