“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (TM)
Rest is something which jars with modern day living.
The world we live in magnifies the importance of being active and progressive at work, of climbing the career ladder. We are told of the importance of squeezing the most activity out of our limited leisure time. Thanks to ever improving technology, in particular, the mobile phone, we are directly contactable at all times, even when we are trying to sleep at night. Add in the pressures of family life, the expectations placed upon parents and children and life can sometimes feel overwhelming.
If we’re not careful, all this can result in us feeling that our value as individual people is based on what we do or achieve rather than who we actually are.
Stop! We are human beings, not human doings.
Today, press the pause button and take some time out and get away with God. Not only will it give you focus and perspective, but it will give you rest from all the competing pressures on your life and as it becomes habitual, you too will learn the unforced rhythms of grace and what living lightly and freely is all about.