Achieve. Produce. Work. Don’t stop.
We are an achievement driven culture. At least in America. The message is consistently sent that our worth is based on our contribution to society. If we’re not doing, then we’re not living.
We’ve got jobs, and responsibilities. In order to thrive, work is required. It’s all part of the “being human” gig. Work can be good and rewarding.
Hard work and achievements do matter. As Christians, we have the important responsibility to serve the Lord. We give, labor, and strive, all for the Kingdom. We each have a “calling” to do good works for Christ.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
Super important, and quite exciting to be a part of what God is doing. What about rest? What about just being? God is our maker and knows we need rest. He made us with the need for rest.
We are not designed to go nonstop. We are meant to rest in Christ. This beautiful act is not always easy.
In Mark 6 we read about the disciples needing rest. Actually, I don’t think they knew they needed rest, but Jesus knew exactly what they needed.
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.”(Mark 6:31, NIV)
Three things are required for rest.
Jesus, solitude, and quiet.
Sounds easy, right?
It’s definitely simple, but not always easy. We are so busy doing, that stopping to rest sounds like we’re doing nothing. Like, we’re wasting time.
Rest is a verb. When we choose to get alone, and quiet ourselves it’s an action. When we invite Jesus into that time and space it’s life changing. Only Jesus can give us real rest. Jesus will fill us up, if we let him.
The world takes from us, Jesus constantly gives to us.
Rest in Jesus is like breathing in the purest air. It’s like feeling the warm sun on your face.
Real rest comes from Jesus. He gives rest to our weary souls.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
Is your soul weary? Are you tired? Maybe burned out?
You might be thinking Where am I going to squeeze in one more thing? It’s not to burden you. It’s to encourage and help you. I strongly encourage you to pick a time to step away. Even if it’s just five minutes. Find a quiet spot. It doesn’t have to be pretty. Closets work.
No phone. No noise. Just you and Jesus. Talk with Him. Listen to Him. Grab your Bible. Ask Him to speak to you. You can also do nothing and just sit with Jesus.
Jesus is waiting for you. He will give you the rest you so desperately need.
Love you all,
Meghan
Heavenly Father,
We are tired. Our souls can get so tired and weary. You know our limits and how much we need to rest in Jesus. Help us all to make rest in Christ a priority. Show us how to rest in you. Show us where and when to spend time alone with Jesus. We need you. We love you and praise you Father!
Amen
- Photo by James Wheeler on Pexels.com
Meghan E White 
Meghan, this is a beautiful message! And so needed! How easily we can join right into the world’s definition of achievement and success by living our lives in high speed. I love how you reminded me that rest is a verb! So simple, so profound. And how Jesus knew His disciples needed rest. Yes, let us rest and take in more of Jesus! The only One who gives and gives as we rest in Him. Blessings and love to you!
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Thank you for taking the time to read my little post. The word rest sounds like we are doing absolutely nothing, but when we rest in Jesus it’s very active. He knows what we need. God is so good. Many blessings and love to you too, Melissa!
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Well spoken, Meghan. Everything about our being needs rest; mind, body, and soul. If we are saved, our soul is at rest in Him. But we tend to push the mind and body to the limit because our culture demands it. I try to take the same time every day to “shut down.” After dinner is my quiet time. Just me and our Lord (His Word) in my office. It works for me. My Lord and I talk to each other all day long. But that time of reading and pondering is so refreshing. Thanks for reminding us all how important this is.
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We really do push ourselves beyond what we should. I love your shut down time. That’s awesome. My quiet time with the Lord is first thing in the morning. That’s just what works for me. Thank you so much Sharon.
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Hi Meghan! This is simple marvelous and refreshing to have such a nice lady saying how much we need to slow down and take the opportunity to be as peaceful as we are able in solitude so we can be more completely focused on the Lord while we allow our fragile human bodies the actual healing rest they need! Never seen an article quite like this and I’m telling I’m sold and already focused on this mission you put forth to us! What a gift this and you are to do this for Jesus who just spoke to me through you and your following His will as you do exactly what you wrote about in these words of Scripture; “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV) Thank you again Meghan, and I’m now off to bed so I can pray and get more into alignment with the Holy Spirit and improve on my resting better and listening closely as I do, I’ve been over tired lately and not sleeping well so this should be the start of making the necessary adjustments.
Oh and something special to add here for sure. I was just watching an old classic TV show the Andy Griffith Show and it was an episode where this lice lady got into town that graduated from the University as a pharmacist and was going to take over running her uncles store and of course be the new pharmacist. So things got a little tense as the towns people were used to some unconventional routines even in getting their medicine and this lady played by the sweet actress Eleanor Donahue starts to have some friction with everyone right from the start. But it all gets worked out to everyone’s advantage, so she brought positive change and learned a few things herself. I was just thinking after that how I need to do better forming my schedules and allow for better rest and then out of the blue or from God actually I got online only to check my email which I almost didn’t do and found an email regarding your blogs so I had to take a peak and wallah just the medicine I needed like the nice lady had brought to town that helped the towns people to make some improvements, here was your very article telling me to, “Get Some Rest,” and that’s exactly what I’m going to! God does work in mysterious ways and thanks be to God for that and all He does for us! Sorry so long but I do get carried away at times!
Thank you!
God Bless You and Yours.
Lawrence
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Wow!! That’s so kind of you to say all of that. I’m grateful to be used by God in any way to encourage others. It’s humbling that God can use someone like me to bless others. I’m just the lowly messenger and it’s His message. That’s the prayer and goal each time I write. I hope and pray you got rest and will continue to regularly rest in Him. Thank you again for your incredible comment. You really blessed me.
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Aww, gee, you’re so kind and doing a phenomenal job for the Lord! Yes, if we are in sync with Him there is no doubt we will serve Him as He sees best and be instruments of His divine plan for us. Lord knows I could give you an earful at this moment as I had such an upsetting experience out on the highway and it worries anyone to think that so many humans have lost the meaning of the word humanity. It becomes so vicious at times in the jammed up fast paced man-made jungle and we all need to be on our toes almost to a fault. You deserve all I said in the last comment and much more! I do find myself having some wishful thinking about how nice it would be to go back in time to a much slower and simpler loving neighborly world filled with sensible, compassionate God fearing humans. The sad truth is Meghan that world barely exists anymore and the era is long past unfortunately for us who live in the here and now of the high tech cyber space world leading the way for most if not all humans whether they can admit it or not. But, your humble grace and desire to do God’s will and encourage others is such a blessing in this current world and a breath of fresh air; and of course I could see it and felt all I responded with, in my words and even the situation as it unfolded the way it did! Very amazing and another sign that God is definitely there 24/7 and 365 days of the year and we just have to be vigilant and stay tuned into His Holy Spirit then we are sure to be doing the absolute best we can, which is all He hopes in His infinite love we will do! I think I should pray on it more as to what other message He may be drawing my attention to in this conversational experience, always lessons to learn or insights yet to come when living our lives, as you said serving Him as a humble servant. You blessed me as well, and I thank you from my heart for that, and I mean it, you’re so genuine and real and that is amazing as well as precious to me! I ask that God watch over you and yours and richly bless you in the Holy name of Jesus. Amen.
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Thank you very much!! Yes, we need to stay tuned to the Holy Spirit and His leading. I appreciate your comments. Thanks again. May the Lord bless you and yours as well.
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Again Meghan, you’re always welcome and I appreciate yours as well. Let’s keep them going and see what other inspirational thoughts and insights the Lord wants us to offer to each other, because besides staying tuned to the Holy Spirit He asks that we share in fellowship the great loving news from our eternal Father! This life is far too short but even a moment of profound truth from Him through our Savior Jesus Christ can make a world of difference for a lifetime spent in the dark, because Jesus came to be the light and hope of mankind, in order to lead any who wish to believe and be faithful; out of that darkness into everlasting light. That’s what we do as one of His servants, is share the Good News! Amen.
Thank you again for all you do.
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Thank you, Meghan! I like how you said, He is waiting for you. So true!! If it’s been a while between my “resting,” it’s like the moment I bow my head, the Lord fills me with His loving peace & encouragement He has been just waiting to pour over me.
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Amen!! He fills us up time and time again & He won’t ever stop filling us up. Thank you Wendy!! Love you 💜
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Love you too, Meghan💖
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