The Desert Rest

Jesus “said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat” (Mark 6:31).

We live in times of rush and turmoil; we are so actively engaged in a hundred and one things; we are “cumbered about much serving” (Luke 10:40); we address meetings and attend meetings; we rush here and there with the inevitable result that often the noise about us and the restlessness of our spirits within prevent our hearing His voice.

We become tired spiritually as well as physically; we lose our freshness. We need a holiday. For if we persistently rush on, even in zealous service for the Lord, and neglect the quiet of communion with Him, we quickly dry up spiritually. We need to be refreshed.

And how gracious is our Lord! If we will not take time to hear His voice when we are strong and active, He may in His great interest in us and yearning for the affections of our hearts, gently take us aside out of the rush and bustle of life into “a desert place.”

How many saints, tired and worn out, have thanked Him for laying them aside in sickness in order that they might “rest a while,” and while resting enjoy quiet communion with Him to an extent that would have been impossible otherwise. Oh, the joy of resting with Him and in Him. Blessed rest of weary souls!

—Norman Campbell, condensed. From Uplook Articles at uplook.org

Come apart and rest a while, or you may just plain come apart. —Vance Havner