Rest a while
Mark 6:31 In the quiet places away from the demands of the world, we can find peace and renewal in the presence of the Lord.
“And He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.” (For there were many people coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)”
Mark 6:31 NASB1995
You almost didn’t get to see a Heaven On Wheels post today. Why? I’m too darned busy!
For the past several days I’ve been polishing an online web form and payment system for my 50th high school reunion (which for some odd reason I volunteered to organize), had to clean my garage for some work that was done today, and discovered that one of the items I moved out of the garage (a recently-removed glass shower door) had been knocked over by strong winds yesterday and shattered into a good number of small pieces in an area covered with decorative rock. That needs to be cleaned up.
Oh, and I’ve agreed to fix some big errors in our church’s website, have to fertilize my grass, plant my garden, and think about planting flowers… not to mention that I need to start preparing to do substitute teaching for exercise classes, and each class needs a separate set of movements and music. Not to mention that Barb has jury duty today, so I get to drive her to and from the courthouse 30 minutes away.
I’m not listing these things to get your sympathy; it’s just to demonstrate how busy people can be — even retirees who are supposed to be “taking it easy”.
Jesus understood the importance of occasionally taking a break from the world. In chapter 6 of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus and the disciples are all quite busy spreading the Good News, healing the sick, preaching, and — in the midst of all this — getting the distressing news that John the Baptist was beheaded…
It’s at this point that Jesus suggests that the disciples go away to a secluded spot and get some rest. Being the human son of God, He knew the toll that too much busyness and stress could take on His disciples. Jesus didn’t just ask them to take a break; he commanded them to do so.
Jesus was well-known for His habit of seeking solitude and praying:
Luke 5:16 - “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.”
Luke 6:12 - “It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.”
Matthew 14:23 - “After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.”
Matthew 15:29 - “Departing from there, Jesus went along by the Sea of Galilee, and having gone up on the mountain, He was sitting there.”
Jesus in prayer on a mountaintop. Image created by DALL-E 3 AI.
Mark 6:31 is an invitation not only for the disciples, but for all of us to recharge now and then, both physically and spiritually. In the quiet places away from the demands of the world, we can find peace and renewal in the presence of the Lord.
That’s one of the reasons I enjoy writing these devotionals. It gives me time to slow down and revel in the glory of God’s Word. What’s your favorite way to unwind and consider the Lord? If you don’t have an immediate answer, perhaps it’s time for you to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while.”
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord, in the hectic busyness of my daily life, it’s easy to forget to press the pause button and rest in Your presence. Guide me to find quiet moments, to retreat from the demands of the world, and recharge in the still places with You foremost in my mind. You are the source of true rest, and in You I find the strength to carry on. AMEN.