Rest For The Weary

Ah, Monday mornings. Don’t you just love ‘em? J

I don’t know about you, but for me, Monday mornings can be rough. When I combine my busy schedule with my husband and son home all weekend, I’m often exhausted by the time the weekend is over.

Isn’t the weekend supposed to be a repose from the busy work week? Maybe if you work a nine-to-five Monday through Friday job. As a freelance writer and small business owner, the line between my business and personal time blurred many years ago.

According to the Animal Planet website, humans are in the middle of the sleep chart for animals, sandwiched between the extremes of giraffes who require less than two hours and brown bats who sleep up to twenty hours a day. Unique to humans is our need for periods of downtime in order to function at our optimum.

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

Jesus understood the importance of rest. As recorded in the gospels, he “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16

If someone with Jesus’ supernatural countenance saw the value of downtime, how am I any different? If I’m tired and rundown, I’m not doing what Jesus modeled for Christians. No matter how stressed with deadlines I am, setting aside time for rest is imperative for spiritual and emotional well-being.

“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.” Matthew 11:28-29

The ultimate rest God offers us is spiritual rest. The kind of rest found only in abiding with Him through His Son Jesus—with prayer and immersion in His Word. Allotting time for this trumps all other commitments. 

Are you weary and burdened this Monday morning? Do you have difficulty telling people no or allowing yourself the benefit of downtime? I pray you find rest for your soul through spending quiet time with Jesus.

Laura ✞

Laura Hodges Poole is a freelance writer with three dozen articles, devotions, and short stories in publication. She writes Christian romance novels and is a 2012 RWA Emily finalist, placing second amongst a nationwide field of Christian and secular entries. Laura is also an Associate Editor with Christian Devotions ministry. Her passion is encouraging others in their Christian walk through her blog "A Word of Encouragement." She may be contacted at laurapoole565@gmail.com.