“Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”   – Jesus (Matthew 11:28)

Sometimes Jesus says things that just stop me in my tracks.  Sometimes it’s things that I’ve read or heard Him say a million times, but somehow I hear it differently.

Yesterday, I was “weary and burdened”.  Physically, I was achy and tired from my busy week.  Emotionally I was drained from the amazing yet heavy things I had witnessed in the days prior.  My nature and personality were telling me to keep going and push through it.  My mind and body were saying, “I just can’t do one more thing.”  I listened to my body and mind this time.

I sensed Jesus’ words of promised rest welcoming me to the couch where I curled up under a blanket and let myself fade into oblivion.  Ninety minutes of rest and even a little sleep.  It was enough to revive me and allow me to go on with the rest of my afternoon and evening.

Even Jesus needed “down” time.  Time to get away.  Be alone with God.  Leave the crowd and the demands and the noise and the distractions.  He needed rest from the attention, the pulling, the energy that leaves you when people ask for your time, your physical presence and your touch on their lives.  While on earth, he was fully in our shoes physically and emotionally.  He experienced first hand what our days and weeks can hold and the toll they can take on us.

No wonder he offered us rest.  He knew we would desperately need it.

Next week Mark and I are going to Hawaii with some dear friends.  We can hardly wait.  What is it that has us counting the hours ’til we get there?  The weather?  The scenery?  The ocean?  All those things are wonderful, but no.  What has us so excited is the thought of rest.  Of hanging out with great friends and just being.  Rest and refreshment from the real world for a little while.  No obligations.  No schedule.  No demands or time tables.  Good conversations and senseless laughing.

And in the lounge chair right next to us, Jesus will be sitting with us.  Sometimes just quiet.  Sometimes sharing things with us together and individually that we can’t seem to hear in the craziness of regular life.  Reminding us to use sunscreen 🙂

Don’t run from rest.  Run to it.  Jesus offers it.  And He only offers really, really good things…