Learning to Rest - Joanna Shumaker

“Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest awhile.” Mark 6:31

Sometimes we have a hard time balancing kids, house, work and church while still taking care of our own needs. In the midst of our busy lives and meeting everyone else’s needs, how do we take time for ourselves?

When I was in college, a professor counseled me on a decision I had to make to be involved in yet another activity on campus. As I gave him my list of pros and cons in regard to the decision, he looked at me and said, “When do you take time for yourself? If you burn yourself out, then you cannot serve God anyway.”

This was not the response I expected. I thought to serve God was to “burn out for Jesus.” Take time for myself? Wouldn’t that be selfish? He showed me passage after passage where God set an example for us to take time to rest. This was the beginning of a “theology of rest” in my life.

Although “being busy” is not a category all women are in, most of us still need to take time for ourselves and rest our spirits. The best example is God, who rested on the 7th day of creation. Jesus set the example for us in the book of Mark when he instructed the disciples to “come away by yourself to a secluded place and rest awhile.”

Jesus also couples resting with time spent with God. After a busy day of ministry, Jesus went to a secluded place, by himself and prayed. His example is a great reminder for us to set aside time away from everyone and everything else to be with Him—renew our spirits.

As we learn to rest and be with God, we teach our children that to maintain a relationship with God does not necessarily mean being busy ministering to others or serving in church. They will see that relationship comes from being with Him, praying to Him, and resting in Him.

Are you tired? Insert time with Christ. You will find rest in His arms.


Joanna Shumaker is a writer and free lance photographer. She is published by Catapult Magazine, and Internet Café Devotions. She has written two Ladies Bible Studies entitled, Renewing Your Spirit and The Strong Woman’s Guide to a Meek and Quiet Spirit. She lives with her husband of nineteen years, and two children. Her heart’s desire is to encourage women in their mid-life with help and hope for the future through God’s message of hope.