Daily Devotional – Saturday, May 28, 2022
And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.”
Mark 6:31 (NKJV)
A single man lived alone in a city. One night, after several days of hard labour and little sleep, he collapsed on the sofa, only to be woken up by the early morning cold. His body had refused to work.
God did not intend that we work continuously and neglect rest. The Creator gave us nights for rest. He also gave us a day of rest to help rejuvenate our faculties for a new week.
Come Aside and Rest a While
The need for rest is inbuilt in our bodies. For example, sleep comes naturally. When the body has had enough rest, it wakes up without prompting. The body also demands for rest after you have strained it for some time.
Jesus taught this principle to His disciples when He told them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” They had had a busy day and, “there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” (Mark 6:31).
When the Body Refuses to Work
In our temporal and spiritual labours, we must deliberately create time to withdraw from the crowds and rest. Getting enough sleep, retreating for prayer, taking vacations and meditating in a quiet place can give you the rest you need so desperately.
We should not wait until our bodies refuse to work for us to rest. Rather, we should find the equilibrium between work and rest for optimal health and happiness.
What do you need to do today to give your body the rest it deserves?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me to strike the right balance between work and rest.
