Time To Recharge

Jeremiah 31:25 NET

Weary?  Worn out?  Whipped?

We are always on the go . . . always working . . . always connecting.  We give the nod to the novel notion that we are masters of our own lives.  We redefine busyness as blessing . . . when in reality it becomes a burden.

Our Creator knows the chaos that we create.  Returning to Him refocuses life.  Resting in Him results in a replenished life.  Surrendering the demands of our schedule to sit at His feet means we find solace, strength and stamina.

Request To Rest.  Too often, we define our status by the demands on our schedule.  Seemingly, the more we do, the more we are needed.  We want to get away, but we can’t pry ourselves from the perceived priorities of life.  There is no better way to “get away” than to get with God.  He longs for us to escape the trials and turmoil of our days by embracing Him.  Jesus understands our rigors of responsibility and He responds with a request, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matt 11:28 NET).  We come to Him and He gives rest.

Reason To Rest.  The pressures of each day should push us to God’s presence, not away.  The psalmist cries out, “And I say, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” (Ps 55:6 ESV)  God designs us to “recycle”, not run all the time.  Our batteries need to recharge.  After Jesus and His disciples met the needs of many, He knew it was time to retreat.  Mark writes, “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).  Charles Spurgeon writes, “Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength . . . It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.”

Results Of Rest.  The prophet Jeremiah is crystal clear in his commentary . . . God fully satisfies and fully refreshes.  Isaiah tells us “the Lord gives you rest from your pain, torment, and the hard labor you were forced to do.” (Is 14:3 HCSB)  When we reside in our Redeemer’s rest, we realize completely renewal, restoration and replenishment.  Jesus says, “Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt 11:29 NET)

S.D. Gordon writes, “If there be anything that can render the soul calm, dissipate its scruples and dispel its fears, sweeten its sufferings by the anointing of love, impart strength to all its actions, and spread abroad the joy of the Holy Spirit in its countenance and words, it is this simple and childlike repose in the arms of God.”

It’s okay to step away from the pressure and sit in His presence.

Your God is waiting with outstretched arms, willing to give you a respite and wanting you to find rest . . . run to Him, let Him rescue you and be renewed in His embrace.