“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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.”
Matthew 11:28-29 ESV
Matthew 11:28-29 ESV
Dear Friends,
Seeking times of true rest and relaxation can be hard for many, especially “Type A” personalities. This past week, I tried to take some time to just rest. However, all too often, if I take some time for self-rejuvenation and rest, I find myself feeling guilty that I am not doing the zillion and one tasks that are waiting for me to do them. That guilt prevents me from experiencing true rest. With raising two young boys, taking care of the house, and ministering in a church, there is ALWAYS something to do. I am the type of person who goes and goes and goes until they crash, and then, once I recover, I go and go again. It has been a vicious cycle of my life. However, I have tried to make times where I sit back and re-energize routinely.
Rest is important. We need to balance our work and obligations with rest for several reasons. First, if we do not rest, then we will burn out. For those, like myself, that have experienced burn out, you know that it takes a long time to recover physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Which brings me to my second point, rest is not just physical. Just taking a nap one day, may not be the type of rest or the amount of rest that one needs. Sometimes I find rest and renewal by reading a book in a quiet place, taking a walk out in nature away from most of civilization, or having a relaxing chat over coffee or tea with a friend. Finding rest and renewal may be different for everyone, and it can depend on what part of you needs the rest. Third, rest is important, because if you do not come at your work with renewed strength and a fresh mind, your work may suffer. You may not do your work as carefully or as successfully as you could have with a bit of rest. Finally, if you do not find rest, then you cannot properly take care of others that are in your care. You cannot help them find the rest that they need.
God thinks that rest is important. It was one of the first things that the Bible teaches us. God created the world, and then on the seventh day He rested (Genesis 2:1-3). When Jesus came to earth, He would often withdraw from His disciples and the crowds to pray and find renewal throughout His ministry (Luke 5:16). Jesus would also go for walks by Himself. Sometimes, He would send His disciples on ahead while He walked alone. Jesus was alone as He traveled through Samaria and spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). One article I read suggested that John 7:10 makes reference to Jesus walking alone from Galilee to Jerusalem, which would have been about 90 miles or about a 5 day walk. This would have given Him plenty of time for thinking and praying in solitude. There are many verses about finding rest in God sprinkled all throughout the Bible.
How do you find rest? What specific practices or habits bring you rejuvenation? I hope and pray that you find rest as you go about your daily life and work this week.
Until next we meet,
Pastor Jessi
Seeking times of true rest and relaxation can be hard for many, especially “Type A” personalities. This past week, I tried to take some time to just rest. However, all too often, if I take some time for self-rejuvenation and rest, I find myself feeling guilty that I am not doing the zillion and one tasks that are waiting for me to do them. That guilt prevents me from experiencing true rest. With raising two young boys, taking care of the house, and ministering in a church, there is ALWAYS something to do. I am the type of person who goes and goes and goes until they crash, and then, once I recover, I go and go again. It has been a vicious cycle of my life. However, I have tried to make times where I sit back and re-energize routinely.
Rest is important. We need to balance our work and obligations with rest for several reasons. First, if we do not rest, then we will burn out. For those, like myself, that have experienced burn out, you know that it takes a long time to recover physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Which brings me to my second point, rest is not just physical. Just taking a nap one day, may not be the type of rest or the amount of rest that one needs. Sometimes I find rest and renewal by reading a book in a quiet place, taking a walk out in nature away from most of civilization, or having a relaxing chat over coffee or tea with a friend. Finding rest and renewal may be different for everyone, and it can depend on what part of you needs the rest. Third, rest is important, because if you do not come at your work with renewed strength and a fresh mind, your work may suffer. You may not do your work as carefully or as successfully as you could have with a bit of rest. Finally, if you do not find rest, then you cannot properly take care of others that are in your care. You cannot help them find the rest that they need.
God thinks that rest is important. It was one of the first things that the Bible teaches us. God created the world, and then on the seventh day He rested (Genesis 2:1-3). When Jesus came to earth, He would often withdraw from His disciples and the crowds to pray and find renewal throughout His ministry (Luke 5:16). Jesus would also go for walks by Himself. Sometimes, He would send His disciples on ahead while He walked alone. Jesus was alone as He traveled through Samaria and spoke with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). One article I read suggested that John 7:10 makes reference to Jesus walking alone from Galilee to Jerusalem, which would have been about 90 miles or about a 5 day walk. This would have given Him plenty of time for thinking and praying in solitude. There are many verses about finding rest in God sprinkled all throughout the Bible.
How do you find rest? What specific practices or habits bring you rejuvenation? I hope and pray that you find rest as you go about your daily life and work this week.
Until next we meet,
Pastor Jessi
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