Rest Area Closed

And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31)

I was helping her wash her hair in the bathtub when it happened. I was called out by my 9 year old. Once again, we were rushing to get ready to go somewhere and as usual, I was hurrying her along. While “discussing” the fact we were running late, she said it. “Mom, I don’t want to be like you, you are always tired and irritable because you are always running around too busy and in a hurry. You need to rest more.”

Dagger to the heart. My first gut reaction was to respond by saying I am always busy because I am always doing things for her and her brother. But that’s not exactly true.

A lot of the things I do aren’t really necessary. Somewhere along the way, I have allowed myself to fall into the trap of busyness, not taking time to rest. No rest makes me tired and irritable, and my children are watching me. I have great intentions to take time to rest, but when I try, it seems the rest area is closed so I just keep going.

Rest isn’t just something to do when you are tired. It’s a command given by God. When God rested on the seventh day of creation, it wasn’t because he was tired; it was because he was setting an example for us to follow. He made it a law in the Ten Commandments when he said to “Remember the Sabbath.”

“Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest.” (Exodus 34:21)

My daughter’s comment made me realize I have allowed “busyness” to control my life robbing me not only of rest, but of my relationship with my family and with God. Running from one thing to the next is “toiling in vain.”

It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. (Psalm 127:2)

God hasn’t called us to busyness. He desires that we rest in Him.

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Have you taken time recently to rest God?

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. (Psalm 62:1)