(Mark 6:31) And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
Well, here we are in the middle of summer and the height of the vacation season. We are seeing lots cars with full luggage racks and out of state license plates. And people we know are talking of their exciting plans to fun places. And in the midst of it all you might be longing to get away and recreate but you’re broke and under a busy yoke. How do you handle all that pressure in life and still try to be happy for others who are able to get away? (Psa 55:6) So I said, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.
Traveling with Jesus was exciting for His disciples. But sometimes it got crazy. There were so many people to reach and keeping up with Jesus was exhausting. The disciples had just returned from a mission the Master had sent them on and they came back with no time to decompress. They jumped right back in to ministry with Jesus and the Bible says they were so busy they didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus recognized their need for some space so He sent them on a much-needed vacation so they could refresh themselves.
Is that what you need to do? Do you need to get away and take that vacation you’ve been thinking about? Some say they can’t afford it but it’s really a matter of priority. There are inexpensive things you can do. You don’t have to go very far. You can even stay home and do day trips (staycation). But why is it we are so driven as a culture to work, work, work? I think it’s because we are proving our worth by our work. Our European counterparts enjoy much time off throughout the year because they value lifestyle and quality of life. But here in America we push ourselves to burnout. We feel guilty when we relax. We don’t want people to think we’re lazy. And we feel indispensible at work, like the business would go belly up in our absence. (Isa 28:12) To whom He said, “This is the rest with which you may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear.
But the Lord has promised rest to His people. (Psa 37:7) Rest in the Lord . . . (Psa 116:7) Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Hard work must be balanced with rest. Remember how God gave the Sabbath for His people Israel to rejuvenate. But if there isn’t any respite, then our bodies and our emotional state begin to break down and we start suffering the consequences. There are times you have to push yourself and then you trust God that you will have times of coming repose. Like a beautiful piece of classical music that gets crazy, hits a peak crescendo, and then resolves into a lazy river of symphony that caresses your weary soul. (Acts 3:19) . . . that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.
But remember this dear one . . . you can spend all that money and go to an exotic place and still be miserable. Why? Because you take yourself with you! There have been vacations where I have been in the most beautiful place but the place in my heart was not so beautiful. At times like these we learn the vacation we need is to enter the rest that Jesus has for us. (Mat 11:28-30) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
God wants us to stop striving and start thriving. Our getaway isn’t so much getting away as much as it is giving away our heavy burdens and cares to the Lord. Then when God allows us a retreat we are not so much running away from something as much as looking for a place to match that perfect peace of the heart.
Louie
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