Rest

Are you tired?

Maybe you went hard during the 2022-23 ministry season. Personally, I gave it my all, asking Jesus to multiply my five loaves and two fish. After I wrapped up the month of May with a sermon on Jesus being fully human, I crashed. Why? Because I am fully human. I needed rest.

Now, here we are in June, which has felt long. And to be honest, I am grateful for it. I’m thankful Jesus not only gives us permission to rest but also commands us to do so.

Mark 6:30-32, “The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.”

Take a look at the context of this passage. Do a little digging. The Twelve Apostles just returned from a missionary journey. They were sent in twos to different regions to proclaim repentance, cast out demons, and heal the sick. They were told not to take anything for their journey; instead, they were to let the people they were ministering to serve them, feed them, and listen to their teaching.

Jesus knows we are human. He knows that on the journey, we need to trust the Father and that once home, we need to rest. He modeled this for us. Do you need to get away to a desolate place and rest for a while? You might be thinking, Jed, “I can’t rest. Do you know all of my responsibilities?” I don’t. Jesus does. Ask him for the faith to rest.

In the words of the dad who longed to have his son set free in Mark 9:24, “I believe, help me with my unbelief.”