And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat (Mark 6:31, English Standard Version).

After the apostles returned from their first ministry tour, they met with Jesus to share what they had done. By now, they were celebrities. Jesus and His companions had as much of a chance to enjoy a quiet meal together as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in a burger place next door to a high school.

They had been busy serving Him. He had been busy ministering to others. Countless people sought Jesus to meet their needs. They did not care how He was feeling, if He had slept well the night before, or if He had eaten an adequate meal that day. They wanted healing, and they demanded it now!

While He was in His earthly body, Jesus needed rest like all of us do. He and His disciples needed to rest, eat well, and take care of themselves if they could serve others. Jesus would seek time alone to pray (Mark 1:35-37).

Some Christians might be tempted to serve the Lord until they are exhausted, neglecting self-care because “the Lord’s work cannot wait.” However, He does not expect anything from us that He did not expect from His disciples.

Jesus sought to pray first. We should also make prayer a top priority.

He sought alone time with His disciples so they could discuss their ministries, learn from Him, and encourage one another. We need time to read His Word, meditate on it, and hear His voice. We also need to fellowship with other followers of Christ, in an atmosphere of mutual accountability and encouragement.

He wanted them to rest, eat, and relax. We need to do these things too.

Don’t worry. God will take care of the world while you recharge your batteries. It will still be here when you return to action.

Do you ever find yourself burning out in ministry or church-related activities? How do you find renewal for your strength? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.

Copyright © 2024 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.