Active Theology

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 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.”  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” (Mark 6:30-32, NIV)

We live in a world that puts an emphasis on busyness. We work long hours each day only to go home and race from one activity to the next. Finally, we make it to the weekend and we fill up our time with all of the things we couldn’t get to during our work week. In a way, I think our culture idolizes being busy and filling up our schedules. We wear our multitude of activities like a badge of honor and at times we may even feel guilty if we don’t have anything to do.

It’s no wonder that the “Sunday Scaries” are a real problem for us. After a long and busy work week, and a long and busy weekend, we find ourselves at Sunday evening…tired, stressed, and wishing we had another day in the week to rest.

Rest is so important that Jesus modeled it for us. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus and his disciples had been traveling around preaching and doing miracles as they were followed by crowds of people. Scripture even points out that they hadn’t had a chance to stop and eat because they were so busy. I can’t imagine how exhausted they must have felt. Instead of just pressing on, Jesus told them to find a quiet place to get some rest, and that’s exactly what they did. 

You may find yourselves thinking, “I don’t have time to stop and rest” or even “I was able to rest and take a long nap today, but I still feel anxious heading into this week.” I’ve been in the same place before. In fact, there have been plenty of weekends where I binged Netflix on Sunday afternoon, and still felt tired and dreaded Monday morning. While physical rest is good for us, I have found that it’s the rest for my soul that truly gives me the peace I need as I head into the week. 

How do we find rest for our souls? Spending time with Jesus. I make time to pray to Him and share my heart with Him, give thanks for all of the ways He provides and tell Him about what worries are weighing on me. I read Scripture and look for His promises in order to remind me that He is always with me, even when things seem uncertain (Joshua 1:9). I listen to worship music or read uplifting things that remind me of His character. All of these rhythms of rest help me to focus on Jesus and give me strength as I prepare to work again.

Making time to rest in Jesus, and dwell on who He is, helps ground me in truth as I head into another busy week. Instead of sprinting from one thing to the next this week, I encourage you to slow down and take time to rest in Jesus.

Pray: Lord, as I head into another week, help me to remember to rest in you. Fill my heart and mind with reminders of who you are and not get distracted with all of the things that fill my time. Help me set my eyes on you and make time for you in the midst of all the things that pull me in different directions.

Songs: “House of God Forever” by Jon Foreman and “Rest” by Simon Wester

Amanda is an Instructional Coach at Tonganoxie Elementary School.