A Minute to Pause: A Moment to Rest in Jesus

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:38-42).

One Saturday, I rushed around stressing about everything I had to get done—completely enslaved by my to-do list.

As I hurriedly chopped a bell pepper for a meal-prepped casserole, a wave of exhaustion swept over me. I stepped away from the cutting board and took a deep breath. . . in. . . and. . . out. . .

“Lord,” I prayed in angst, “Why am I in such a rush?” I was making myself completely exhausted, but what for?

That pause and prayer changed everything.

And I don’t mean that my to-do list vanished into thin air. Instead, I realized I had been trying to operate in my own strength and hadn’t included much time to sit and simply be with Jesus. No wonder I was so tired.

Can you relate?

Time to Pause

Here and now, I encourage you to take a deep breath. . . in. . . and. . . out. . .

Invite Jesus into this present moment; ask Him to remind you what truly matters. Take a minute now to sit in silence, aware of God’s presence and reflecting on His Truth. Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10) and is in control.

Finding True Rest: Relationship with Jesus

Don’t get me wrong—some days, our to-do lists consist of things we must get done. After all, who else will get the kids to school? Wash the dishes? Fold the laundry? God certainly wants us to be wise stewards of all He’s entrusted to us. And even in this, it’s okay to ask for help. But if we are truly wise, we will also recognize our need for rest and make it a priority.

In today’s society, rest is often reserved as a reward after working ourselves to the bone. But Jesus prioritized biblical rest. He often spent time alone with the Father and sometimes even took naps. . . even in the middle of a raging storm (check out Mark 4:35-41).

Even more than another cup of coffee, time alone with Jesus is what refuels us.

Martha: A Woman Who Can Relate

Maybe this is the first time you’re pausing today from your busy schedule. If so, you’re not alone. I’m sure a woman named Martha in Luke 10:38-42 would relate, and we can learn a lot about the importance of slowing down from her sister, Mary.

Take a minute now to read the passage. I’ll wait right here.

In Luke 10, Jesus and His disciples traveled through a town called Bethany, where a hospitable woman named Martha invited them into her home. While Martha rushed around doing all the work, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, hanging on every word He spoke. When Martha begged Jesus to tell Mary to give her a hand, Jesus lovingly rebuked her and told her that Mary had made a better choice. What?

It wasn’t that Martha’s well-intended service offended Jesus. But while Martha was busy with good things (i.e., making sure Jesus and His followers had enough to eat and drink), Mary was busy with something better: enjoying Jesus’ company and treasuring His words.

Similarly, you and I can be busy with good things (i.e., work, serving at church or GEMS Club, cooking, cleaning, exercising, etc.). Still, if we’re not careful, we leave little time for what is most important: our relationship with Jesus and finding true rest in Him.

Jesus invites us to cultivate our relationships with Him by sitting and simply being. In our silence before the Lord, we give ourselves space to enjoy His presence, read His Word, and reflect on His Truth. In these quiet moments with the Savior, we can lift up our praises and concerns to God in prayer, know that He hears us, and be filled up so we can continue pouring out.

And inviting Jesus into everyday moments and setting aside time to simply enjoy His presence may feel like a ‘chore’ at first. It’ll require trust as some things will have to wait. It’ll require surrender as we say “not my will, but yours be done.”

But this kind of rest is a spiritual act of worship as we give our schedules over to God—the One who’s really in control.

Now, let’s get practical.

Next Steps in Finding True Rest

The next time you catch yourself rushing about, worried about many things, pause and pray. Ask God to help you remember what matters most and reveal why your heart and life feel hurried.

You may want to begin setting aside the first five minutes of each day to talk to God. Sit in silence as you rest in the reality of His presence. Share your praises and prayer requests. Read His Word and cling to His Truth throughout the day.

At His feet, we’ll find true rest. There, we find His strength which enables us to do all that He has called us to do.

May we live, serve, and love others out of that overflow.

Friend, will you join me in prayer today?

Dear God,
More than the air we breathe and the food we eat, we need You. You are our Source of rest, strength, joy, and peace. In the busyness of life, may we not overlook our daily need to meet with You. Make us aware of Your constant presence, and by Your Spirit, help us to invite You into each and every moment of the day. Reorder our priorities, Lord. Have Your way with our calendars. Show us what to remove in order to make more room for You. Help us to put You first in everything. In Jesus’ name, amen.