August 23, 2024

The Refill of Rest
JACKIE SMITH-BELL

Lee en español

“… [Jesus] said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31 (NIV)

As I was driving along the highway, panic set in — I realized I had five miles until my gas tank was empty.

Running on fumes, I coasted into the nearest filling station, reflecting on the similarity between my soul and my fuel tank, both needing to be replenished. Life had been moving at a breakneck speed, leaving me emotionally drained, and I hadn't slowed down to recover.

Exhausted by my mounting to-do list, I longed for moments of rest to refill my soul with peace and joy only God could provide. Initially, I convinced myself I'd find time later that day, after finishing dinner and laundry, or the next morning. However, I kept making excuses, focusing on other things instead.

Do you ever make excuses about why you haven’t spent time with God? Do you ever wonder why your relationship with Him is “low on fuel” and rest feels nonexistent? You aren’t alone, friend.

We live in a world where busyness and excuses are commonplace and quiet time with God feels optional. If we aren’t careful, life's demands can easily have us speeding toward an unsustainable pace that drains our senses. Prioritizing rest is essential to replenishing our souls. 

Even Jesus, who was fully God and fully man, embraced rest (Luke 5:16; Matthew 8:24). And just as our Savior welcomed rest, we need it to recharge and reinforce our well-being, enabling us to show up as the best versions of ourselves in service to God and others.

In Mark 6, Jesus sent His disciples out on a ministry assignment. After completing this assignment, preaching, healing people and spreading the gospel, the disciples returned home emotionally, physically and spiritually exhausted.

Jesus, the ultimate source of rest, said: “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).

Jesus’ request was not just casual but was a command to prioritize spiritual replenishment and soul care, leaving no room for excuses. He tells you and me to do the same in our assignments as wives, mothers, friends and more within our spheres of influence.

We often coast through our days and try to sustain ourselves with tasks that were never meant to fulfill us — then wonder why we aren't experiencing abundant life. Sometimes our souls’ emptiness indicates our need to spend quiet time in the presence of Jesus, our true Sustainer. His presence is the place where grace flows and life’s pressures lighten.

Resting in Jesus enhances our day. We can start small, like waking up 30 minutes earlier for prayer or taking a 15-minute walk outdoors to appreciate His creation. The outcome is the same: He restores the joy and peace we thought were lost.

Jesus loves to fill our emptiness with His presence.

Dear God, on the days when life has emptied my reserves of peace, joy and rest, fill my heart with Your Truth. Help me to reevaluate my schedule and to be available for You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

We all want our relationships to go the distance, but it’s inevitable that not all will. As believers, when this happens, how can we move forward without growing bitter and resentful? Lysa TerKeurst; Licensed Professional Counselor Jim Cress; and Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Director of Theological Research, Dr. Joel Muddamalle, discuss this and more in their recent conversation “How To Move On When Someone Walks Away,” where they’ll help you navigate goodbyes with biblical wisdom and tender encouragement. Watch here.

ENGAGE

For more encouragement, you can connect with Jackie Smith-Bell on her Instagram or check out her 3-day Bible plan on YouVersion, “Abiding Hope: Standing in Faith When Life Is Crumbling.”

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Ecclesiastes 7:8, “Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (ESV).

When can you make time for Jesus today? Is there anything that can be removed from your busy schedule to give you a few minutes of quiet time and rest with Him? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!

© 2024 by Jackie Smith-Bell. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org