Resting in th Lord

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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"Take my yoke"

Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Think about all the times we hear commands in radio and TV ads. “Start using your checkout account today!” “Don’t lose your reward!” “Buy now and save!” Such commands, clearly, are designed to stir us to action. 

Jesus sometimes speaks this way to us, too. In today’s Gospel reading, for instance, he issues a compelling command, one with promises attached that far outstrip any promise made by any advertiser. Come to me! he commands, and I will give you rest, he promises (Matthew 11:28).

And yet Jesus knows how easy it is for us to set aside his command to come to him and so miss out on his promise of rest. We have all kinds of reasons why we don’t come to him. Guilt or shame can keep us away because we feel unworthy to be in Jesus’ presence. Or maybe we are feeling overwhelmed, so busy trying to get things done that we just don’t feel we can make the time for God. Distractions, especially the “noise” we face every day from the myriad forms of media and entertainment, can make it difficult to quiet our minds and settle into Jesus’ presence. Or we might be tempted to think, “I’m okay. I don’t need to rest with Jesus right now. I can do this if I just work harder.”

Whatever the reason, Jesus still says, Come! Come to me when you’re feeling bad about yourself. Come to me even when you think you’re too busy. Come especially when you’re distracted. Come when you are depressed or anxious or lonely. Come, even if you think you can do something without me.

So what are you waiting for? Using your faith and your imagination, place yourself in Jesus’ presence right now. Tell him what’s on your mind—your burdens, your victories, your worries, your workload. Even tell him about your sins. He won’t judge you; he’ll forgive you! Then close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. You may not feel anything right away, but you can still trust that he is pouring his blessings on you—precisely because you came to him. 

“Jesus, I need your rest, so I come to you to take on your yoke and learn from you.”

from wau.org

Find rest

Come to me … and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Do you feel restless as Christmas approaches? If so, these words from Jesus are meant for you. Why did he invite people to rest in him? Maybe he saw how weary they were or how frustrated they felt at not seeing much fruit from their labors. Perhaps he noticed the burdens they were carrying—family challenges, guilt over past sins, or fears for their future. How many of us have felt this way as well!

The good news is that Jesus understands our need for rest. Remember, he often experienced fatigue and difficulties himself. His physical tiredness came from walking miles in the heat, surrounded by crowds of people wanting something from him. But he also felt a spiritual burden, knowing that he would eventually be rejected by many of these same people and condemned to a painful death.

How did Jesus deal with all this stress? By going away to rest in his Father’s presence—sometimes all night long (Luke 6:12). Jesus knew that his mission required that he do the hard work of preaching and teaching and healing, but he also knew that it required time apart with his Father so that he could continue on the path laid out for him.

Similarly, God has specific work that he wants us to do, and it can be demanding at times, especially as Christmas Day draws nearer. That’s why we have to make time to get away, just to be with Jesus, to receive his rest, his comfort, and his grace. This can pose a challenge to us, but it is so important that we need to make sure we do it. If only for a few moments at a time, we need to put aside our long Christmas to-do lists and postpone all those pressing demands. Think about how refreshing a quick nap can be. Think of how helpful it can be to get outside for a short walk. Now imagine how much more refreshing it can be to spend just a few moments with Jesus!

Today, take time to rest quietly in the Lord’s presence. Put the Christmas demands out of your mind—at least for a moment. Don’t worry about saying anything. Just relax, and soak up his love

 

from wau.org