“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
Are you worn out? Do you need rest? The frantic pace of our society sometimes makes us feel we are not measuring up if our days aren’t filled to maximum capacity. Moving at a frantic pace day after day can leave us with an overwhelmed mind and an underwhelmed soul. Busy schedules and day to day struggles make the body and soul tired. When an unexpected crisis comes in the middle of it all, we feel completely exhausted and aren’t sure how we will cope.
Eventually, our fatigue can lead to a breakdown of our bodies, our minds, and our souls. Our relationships suffer because we are grouchy and short-tempered. Our work suffers because we are too tired to give 100%. Then, we feel guilty because we haven’t and can’t give it all our best. We are too tired. The only way to preserve our sanity and our bodies is to set aside time for rest.
God shows us that rest is right for us. God rested after He completed the creation of the Heaven and the Earth (Genesis 2:1-2).
In Mark 6:31a, Jesus commanded His disciples to rest after they had returned from a long journey of preaching, healing, and spreading the word of God. They had been met by much opposition and were exhausted. Many more lives needed their ministry, but for now they needed rest and renewal. Jesus said to them, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile” (Mark 6:31a NLT).
We also grow tired as we take care of our families, work and juggle an arduous number of tasks in a day, and cope with the struggles in our lives. Just as He called the disciples to rest, He calls us to rest. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NASV).
He provides us with two types of rest, a physical rest and a spiritual rest. We need physical rest, also known as sleep or that all elusive slumber. Our bodies break down if we don’t get enough of it. Studies show we are at an increased risk for heart disease, diabetes and depression if we don’t get enough sleep.¹ Give yourself time to unwind at night if you have trouble falling asleep. Be kind to yourself and stop checking emails and texts late at night.
You can try to be all and do all for a little while, but eventually you may begin to miss appointments and become emotional because you’ve pushed yourself beyond fatigue. Slow down, just for a minute, and spend time with the Lord. Seek the second type of rest, the spiritual rest. Move your focus from your overwhelming and unending to-do list to the comforts of His word. “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him” ( Psalm 62:1 NIV).
The word rest is the Greek word anapauo. It means “to refresh so to recover strength.” ² It’s all about revitalization and restoration. The only way you can get spiritual rest and renewal of your mind is by spending time with God. Slow down and take a few minutes to pray and read the Word. Rest in Him and let the Holy spirit give you guidance, peace, joy and strength. Stay long enough in His presence so He can comfort you and help your mind calm, so you can rest.
Setting aside time for sleep and spiritual renewal shouldn’t be placed on the bottom of your list. You need both! After you are renewed through this physical and spiritual rest, you will have more energy and a clearer mind to finish all the things you started.
1. “White Paper: How Much Sleep Do Adults Need?” National Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org/professionals/whitepapers-and-position-statements/white-paper-how-much-sleep-do-adults-need.
2. Based on a definition from James Strong, “Greek Dictionary of New Testament” in Strong’s Expanded Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible Red-letter Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), p. 22, entry #373, anapauo.