We all know that resting is necessary, but so many of us find it hard to incorporate it into our lives. The first obstacle we need to overcome is guilt. That’s what makes us workaholics. We feel guilty and tell ourselves that we don’t have time to rest because there’s too much that needs to be done. Jesus handled life differently: ‘Because so many people were coming and going that [He and his disciples] did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me…to a quiet place and get some rest.” So they went away by themselves…to a solitary place’ (vv.31-32 NIV). If we’re feeling like there are too many people coming and going, that there’s no time to eat, and no time to take care of ourselves, we need to follow Jesus’ example. We need to take time to rest, refuel, and retreat with God. Even when we’re doing God’s work we need to take time to rest. God never said we had to work ourselves to the point of burn out. In fact, He said: ‘My yoke is easy, and my burden is light’ (Matthew 11:30 NIV). Even in the middle of overwhelming circumstances, we can go to God for rest. We can lay out all our problems before Him, and we can ask Him to give us the strength we need to carry on. The psalmist said, ‘He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters’(Psalm 23:2 NIV). God wants us to rest and spend time with Him. Above anything He calls us to do, He wants relationship with us. Getting to know someone comes from spending time with them and giving them our undivided attention. That’s what we can do when we stop our busyness and enter God’s rest. 

What Now?

However busy you are today, find some time to rest in God’s presence. In that time just sit with God and let Him restore you.