“And He said to them, ‘Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat” (Mark 6:31, NKJV).
During a recent overseas trip for a funeral, I took a few hours to sit quietly on the beach. I’m not particularly a beach lover – though I do love the water – as the sandflies always seem to find my blood sweet. Yet, those few hours listening to the rhythm of the sea and watching the birds play along the shore were deeply therapeutic.
One of the curses of twenty-first-century life is its relentless pace. We are constantly on the move, endlessly busy, and burdened with responsibilities that keep piling up. The result? We are weary, worn-out, and perpetually stressed. The ‘to-do list’ seems to grow longer with every passing day, leaving little time for rest or reflection.
This constant activity often leads to unhealthy choices – poor sleep habits, over-reliance on fast food, and lack of physical exercise. We end up storing not treasures, but years of preventable illness born from imbalance and neglect.
Even Jesus, in His divine mission to save humanity, recognised His human need for rest. He took time apart to refresh His mind, body, and spirit. And so must we.
Christian stewardship calls us to a life of balance – a life where we put God first and invite Him to order our steps. Sometimes that means allowing God to rewrite our plans: to strike out unnecessary tasks, postpone an event, or remind us that not every meeting demands our presence.
Perhaps what we truly need is to pause – to step away from the noise, gather our thoughts, and rest in His presence.
Prayer
Father, society teaches us that we are only valued when we are doing. But You remind us that our worth lies not in activity, but in our relationship with You. Teach us how to ‘come apart and rest awhile’ without guilt, finding renewal in Your peace.
Amen.