Are you busy, tired, spiritually drained?
Jesus shows us another way.
I’m always thinking about Jesus and how He lived on earth, fully divine and fully human. He had the same needs that we have, and one of the realities is that he did get tired; He needed some space at times to think and pray away from the crowds. He needed time with just His Father.
Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray. (Luke 5:15-16)
We also see Jesus watching Martha run around serving. Although, He was blessed by Martha’s love and service, He commended Mary for taking the time to sit at His feet. Both are needed, but often the former becomes a way of life where the default button is set to GO!
Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. Martha was distracted by all the preparations. (Luke 10:38-42)
We all have seasons of being overly busy, and there is nothing we can do about it; seasons where it is unrealistic to take things off our daily assignments. But the key is to find spaces of time to decompress and just “be.”
When my children were little, I began a daily habit of having “me” time early in the morning while everyone was still asleep and the house was quiet. It was a sacrifice for an exhausted Mom, but the benefits were worth it. Most days I would drag myself begrudgingly out of bed, but the daily time with Jesus in His Word brought a fresh wind into my spiritual lungs. I have continued that habit throughout the years.
But friends, we all find ourselves at times in seasons where the hamster wheel is going so fast, we are dizzy with the stress of it all. Fatigue sets in, and we cannot think as clearly as we should. Our quiet times are helpful, but the fatigue runs so deep that we need to do what Jesus did, slip away to be alone, even if just for a few hours. For me, taking a walk without EarPods, just listening to the birds and taking in God’s beautiful creation helps. And the benefit? My ears tune in to the voice of My Shepherd. Thoughts flow, creativity flows, and my heart is at rest. With so many daily decisions to make, I use that time to ask the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom and speak to the issues at hand. The Lord has never failed to meet me when I take even just a short amount of time to be alone.
Work, relationships, children, and managing our affairs can suck the life out of us, but Jesus modeled a way for us to draw near to Him. Friends, Jesus is the One who saves us from pushing the “go” button when we are past our limits. He is waiting for us to make life changes so that we can find peace and serenity even in the midst of crazy. He wants us to live a life full of vigor and purpose; a life that points others to Him alone. Take time and assess where you are in terms of making space for God, and find a rhythm that flows in peace, no matter what season of life you are in.
Would love for you to join our Drawing Near community —start a study in your neighborhood or join us live in the fall. We would love to help you make space for God.
