Come away . . . and rest. (Mark 6:31)
What a gracious, kind invitation Jesus made to
the Twelve! It seemed that everyone wanted something from him—healing,
deliverance, advice, even a good theological dispute. But Jesus made
sure that he spent time with his apostles so that he could teach them
how to find rest in God’s presence. He wanted to help them find the
right balance between serving God and letting God serve them and tend to
their needs.
Balance. Isn’t that one of the biggest challenges we all face?
In a world that emphasizes accomplishments and achievement, the call to
sit quietly with the Lord and receive his blessing can sound narrow and
self-indulgent. But the truth is that everyone needs to spend time
alone with Jesus. We all need to come to him in the quiet of our hearts
and let him minister to us. For without this time alone, we will have
nothing to offer the people we are serving and caring for.
Writing about prayer, the Jesuit theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar
once said, “Harassed by life, exhausted, we look about us for somewhere
to be quiet, to be genuine, a place of refreshment. We yearn to restore
our spirits in God, to simply let go in him and gain new strength to go
on living. . . . In a field of quiet, there lies waiting for us a hidden
treasure.”
Don’t give up on that treasure! Don’t let the world convince you that
you have all the resources you need to face the challenges of life!
Every day, Jesus has special gifts set aside for you—treasures that he
knows you will need as you face the ups and downs of the day. These
treasures may include a verse from Scripture that you can share with a
loved one, a warm embrace from his Spirit to support you in a tough
situation, or a dose of courage to help you in the fight against
temptation.
So take Jesus’ words to heart today. He is calling you right now:
“Come away with me.” Carve out a time and a place where you can go with
him to rest, to be taught, and to be loved.
“Thank you, Jesus, for calling me to your side. Here I am, Lord! Come and fill me up.”
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