Mark 6:31 New International Version (NIV)

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

Rest! Many people long for it but cast it aside as if it’s an option.

During my “get up and go to the office days” I would boast that I haven’t taken but 3 days off all year. (Mind you I got 4 weeks off) I WORKED, ALL THE TIME. Nights, weekends, holidays, even on vacations.

Once I was at a theme park and I would rush and put my daughter on a ride so I could answer emails. Who does that?

I can’t even begin to tell you how many weekends I went INTO the office to work.

Looking back on it now it all seems rather foolish. No one gave me a medal for the most hours worked. My boss(‘s) could care less that I spent so much time making my week look easy by working through the night. I replaced REST with WORK.

I was checking my email before I got out of bed. I had people calling me to put out a fire when they were holding the extinguisher. People would text me during church, not because it was important but because if I didn’t value my rest THEY DIDN’T EITHER. I was too busy for myself. Too busy to rest. I needed to get somewhere by myself so I could do NOTHING.

Rest is much-needed. It’s a requirement! Your mind and body needs a chance to catch up with each other.  I had to learn this truth. We all think we need to do just one more thing. This is what I found out. That “thing” will still be there when you come back. Nothing is going to spontaneously combust because you took time for yourself.

God wants you to go to a quiet place and get some REST!

What’s your definition of rest? 15 min with your eyes closed, a week at the beach, a nap in the car during lunch, a destination vacation? Whatever it is don’t neglect it. Get some rest.