Mary’s Lent Diary (Day 34)

Jesus went off by himself for a while after his cousin’s death.  I am not surprised, he and John were really close.

But, as always, he was not only thinking of himself.  He did not spend too much time alone before his disciples joined him.  They are back!  I bumped into Peter yesterday and he was full of what they had seen and done, healing and teaching people….I asked if they were going out again and Peter told me that they had wanted to.  They were all fired up with excitement, and raring to go.

When the disciples had found Jesus, they struggled to get a word in. Crowds were surrounding them, as people heard where Jesus was; the disciples didn’t even have chance to eat.

And Jesus took them to a place away from all the crowds.  Then he made them sit down and rest.  Take time out.  Reflect on what they had done.  Tell him all about it.

Apparently his exact words were: ‘Come away with me by yourselves and get some rest.’

I saw Peter again today and he looked so different.  He was still as enthusiastic as ever but he looked calmer, more rested, more able and ready for what he needed to do. More realistic, I guess.  When I saw him yesterday, he was full of the positives – now, I think he has had time to assess the negatives and put them in perspective.

Two empty chairs positioned by the sea

Life can get so busy, can’t it.

We forget to rest.

We forget to reflect.

We forget to take stock.

Elijah, when he was doing, keeping going, running, was told by the angel of the Lord,

…the journey is too much for you.

1 Kings 19:17

Elijah was not told, you should be able to do all this.

He was told to rest before carrying on.

The disciples were not told, of course you can keep going, going, going.

Of course you can manage all the crowds right now.

They were encouraged to rest.

Not forever, but for a time.

Stopping doesn’t have to mean forever.

Sometimes, we can feel surrounded by crowds.

Busy job, family responsibilities, life-happenings.

And we keep going,

and our crowds surround us, closer and closer,

until we don’t have chance to eat.

Don’t have chance to look after ourselves.

Maybe don’t have chance to even notice ourselves.

Jesus is so kind to these tired and pressured and overwhelmed disciples.

He doesn’t say, ‘Would you like a rest? How would that look to you?’

No, He takes the decision away from them.

He says ‘Come’.

Come with Me, find rest with Me.

Your Father knows what you need.

Matthew 6:8

Maybe the disciples were so overloaded, that they didn’t know what they needed.

They just needed something.

Maybe you don’t know what you need.

You just know you need something.

Your Father knows what you need.

Matthew 6:8

Jesus says, ‘Come and have time with me, just the two of us.’

 And then carry on, in and with His Strength.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

he refreshes my soul.

23:1-3

Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength.

Isaiah 40:31

Christ gives me the strength to face anything.

Philippians 4:13 (CEV)

Jesus encourages us, as He encouraged the disciples, to make time to pause.

Pause with Him.

Tell Him about our days.

Share with Him.

What would you like to tell Him about today?

 Lord Jesus,

Thank You for knowing what I need.

Thank you for leading me in my going,

and leading me in my resting.

Please help me follow your lead.

Can I stay here a bit and tell you about my day?

This is what happened….

Amen

Mary’s Memo Rest with Jesus

All content of this blog is © Emily Owen. No part of these works may be reproduced without permission.