Resting in the Lord

I took a “mental health day” this past week. Now and then I need one to keep from allowing emotions to run amok. I am grateful to have a job where I can take off on occasion and a boss who agrees that a break now and then is a good thing. It’s a mini vacation that helps me step back from the demands of the job and take a breather to relax.

We all need some time now and then to relax and renew. Life can be demanding and we need mental play time to stay fresh and on top of things. Jesus knew this when he called his disciples away from the presence of the crowds that formed wherever he went. He understood that the demands of ministry could be draining and that unless the disciples rested and got filled up again, they would be running on empty and that would diminish the effectiveness of their work. Jesus also needed break time, though it was often interrupted, and he spent hours in prayer, away from everyone. It was his way of recharging.

Ministry is demanding. But we need to remember that it’s not just Jesus and the disciples. It’s not just the pastor, or the elders or deacons. It’s us. We all have a ministry that the Lord has assigned us. And unless we take breaks now and then, we wear down and lose our focus then things suffer. Maybe it shows up as a stressed marriage or strained relationships with children. Maybe it’s a stumble on the straight and narrow in the workplace where gossip and backbiting flourish. Maybe it’s not praying daily for others. We have ministries that God has given us, but we can only keep pouring ourselves out for so long, and then we need to regroup and rest or we lose sight of what matters most.

This week, try to step back, if only briefly, and catch your breath. You will be a better husband or wife, a better parent and friend. You’ll be a better witness and find greater desire to pray and read the word if you allow yourself to take time to relax and renew. How you do that is unique to you. Read, listen to music, prepare a new recipe, or take a walk. Just stop for a while and let God fill you up again so you will be ready for what lies ahead each day. Ministry is a gift, but so is rest.