Rest a while




And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”

(Mark 6:31)


We all need to know when to stop and take a rest.  To walk away from the rat race and catch our breath. To not rush about all day cleaning the house when it could have been done at a slower pace. Not putting in all those extra hours at work just to impress the boss. 

There is no shame in resting; God intends for us to do so and there is also no virtue in refusing to rest… It is a time to replenish ourselves physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

The words in this verse were said by the Lord Jesus Christ to his disciples. He had sent them out on a mission and upon their return, they told him of all they had done, and the Lord responded with these words, directing his disciples to rest in a desolate place. A desolate place is necessary to recharge the mind and heart, let alone the body. Not a lot of rest can be found in a busy cafe or a room full of loud music (for most of us anyway), we need to find somewhere quiet and calming — a place where the world won't interrupt us.

If you are not well rested, how can you worship the Lord and carry out His work? With rest, we are far better able to undertake our work, focus on behaving Godly, be kind and caring to others, help our families, be more cheerful and joyful, have a healthier body. 

— a restless night doesn't create a happy mother or wife, however, a well rested mother and wife does create a much happier family!!

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I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto me and rest;
lay down, O weary one, lay down
your head upon my breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
so weary, worn, and sad;
I found him in a resting place,
and he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
the living water, thirsty one,
stoop down and drink and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
of that life-giving stream;
my thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
and now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s light;
look unto me; your morn shall rise,
and all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
in him my star, my sun;
and in that light of life I’ll walk
till traveling days are done.

Author: Horatius Bonar (1846)



These lovely flowers were a gift to me from my son and daughter-in-law for my birthday. They were so lovely and sunny. 

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Comments

  1. I think sometimes that if we refuse to voluntarily go aside and rest for awhile that the Lord allows us to get a cold or a headache or a sore foot or whatever is necessary to enforce rest! Being too busy or stressed constantly is likely to result in sickness or injury due to tiredness... Always best to *voluntarily* take time to go apart into a "desert place, and rest a while"! (Some people need to be careful that they don't make a habit of resting too often because laziness is not good for us, either!! ;) )

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    1. I was thinking of all those workalohics who think it makes them look good when they put in long hours. In fact they are just being silly and often selfish to their families. It's a really good bible verse to remember.

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  2. Thanks so much for sharing! The flowers are so beautiful and cheerful!

    I was so struck by your comment, "If you are not well rested, how can you worship the Lord and carry out His work? With rest, we are far better able to undertake our work, focus on behaving Godly, be kind and caring to others, help our families, be more cheerful and joyful, have a healthier body. " It was an Ahh Haa moment for me. It is so very true! Especially the part of behaving Godly. When I am not well-rested, by temper gets much short and I murmur much more inside.

    I realize that for many of us, our days are so filled with activities and people who are depending on us, but that doesn't mean that we can't even take 10 minutes out of that time to spend with the Lord in a Scripture verse and in prayer.

    Thank you for spurring me on to seek His rest every day.

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    1. When I am tired I can get a little snappy which shows why rest is so important - this 24/7 world isn't good for us at all and we need to be gently reminded to slow down and rest:))

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