Finding rest for our weary souls
Read time: 5 mins / Author: Paul Records
Note: The title photo for this article shows a valley sunrise in northern Israel. We can imagine that Jesus retreated to places like this to spend time in solitude and prayer.
As students of Scripture follow the ministry of Jesus, it may appear that He traveled relentlessly from one city to the next preaching from the mountaintops, teaching in the streets, healing the sick, opposing demonic forces, debating with pious religious leaders, and effectively training a group of twelve disciples. Though He did all these things, and more, He did not do it all at once. His ministry spanned over the course of three expansive years. Throughout these three years there were intense fast-paced segments of time and then there were seasons in which Jesus purposely distanced Himself from the the crowds for seasons of quiet solitude.
As men, we have a litany of goals and objectives. When we check one task off the list, several others take its place. As we run from one side of life to the other and fight for our place in the world, we must not neglect “the power and purpose of the pause.” By this, I mean we must intentionally pause on occasion and seek God’s presence. In the presence of our God, we will find the rest and renewal that we so desperately need.
Though we all have a lot to do, we must recognize that we cannot do it all at once.
Luke 5:16 says that Jesus “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” With every great shift and transition, every new wave of pressure, and each period of intense activity, He withdrew for times of prayer. There were times when He “dismissed the crowd” and retreated in a boat with the disciples (Mark 4:36).
Toward the end of His ministry, as voices of opposition grew louder and clashes with the religious rulers increased, His circle of friendships grew smaller and His times of thoughtful prayer grew more abundant.
In the beginning, Jesus started His ministry only after spending 40 days in prayer and fasting. If He entered His ministry after laying a foundation like this, who are we to think we can make it by our own measure?
In a parable in Luke 18:1-5, Jesus taught us that we should continue in prayer and not lose heart.
There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”
By this parable, Jesus does not mean to represent God as an indifferent master. Rather, He aims to show us there is a reward for those who persist and push in prayer. As one writer so aptly states, “The experience of genuine prayer ennobles the life of a Christian and a delay in answering should cause us not to give up and lose hope, but to persist in faith that God will do for us what is best.”* Jesus goes on to say, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Here, Jesus taught that there is a certain level of faith expressed in those who pray continually and faithfully, always trusting that, in the end God will be stirred to action.
As Jesus matured in His ministry, He became aware of the fact that not all His followers would remain with Him to the end. He understood that some would even betray Him. Though many motives drew people into His presence, only a few stayed with Him when it became inconvenient to do so. As He embraced the burden of sacrifice which was to come and taught on the cost of true discipleship “many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66-67).
As those who are seasoned in their faith will attest, “narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:14). In the third and final year of His ministry, Jesus spent more time alone with the disciples than He did with the multitudes. When others left Him and returned home, this core group stayed close by His side.
THE FOUR RETREATS OF JESUS
After the death of John the Baptist, it was dangerous in Galilee to have a reputation that attracted large crowds. Further, the Pharisees became more daring and public in their efforts to accuse Jesus. In this season of great pressure, Jesus withdrew from Galilee on multiple occasions. In his classic work, The Heart of the New Testament, H.I. Hester counts four of these retreats and places them in the first six months of the last year in the ministry of Jesus.
In each case, Jesus retreated with the disciples for times of intimate instruction. He did not cease from public ministry but left the region of Galilee where He was most popular. In each case, He left the political jurisdiction of Herod. He knew what was coming. He knew He would soon enter the final six months of His ministry. Yet, before He ventured for the last time into Jerusalem where He would be executed, He took those closest to Him and traveled into distant regions for intimate and spiritual retreats.
In like manner, if we are to persevere in a society of spiritual decay such as ours, we must learn to withdraw with our Lord for seasons of solitude and prayer. As the time of the Second Coming of Jesus draws near, even the elect will stray from the truth and fall (Matthew 24:24). In these trying times, we must cling tightly to the Messiah. We must not lose heart and we must persevere in our faith and prayers.
An important question a man should ask himself is this: When is the last time I have paused my life for the purpose of finding rest and renewal in God?
At The Full Proof Man, we are working to survey 1,000 men in a research project called The State of Men Report. One of the questions we ask in this anonymous survey is this:
Do you have a daily devotional routine?
Thus far, only 36% of men have indicated “yes.” 48% of men have indicated “sometimes” and 16% have indicated “no.” It is interesting because we also survey men on the state of their emotional health and we have found that there is a direct correlation between a man’s emotional health and the presence of a daily devotional routine. In this, we have discovered that it is not so much the exact manner of a man’s devotions that makes a difference (some men pray in the morning, others in the evening, etc.) Rather, it is the consistency of those devotions that makes all the difference. Has he built his devotions into a daily routine? Is a man faithful with his devotions through the highs and lows of his life and leadership? Does he take time consistently to seek God and spend time in His presence? These are important questions to ask if we intend to lead as authentic spiritual leaders in our homes.
God promises to help us as men. In Him is the strength we need. In all of our going and doing, we must not forget to pause every once in a while and abide in Him.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. John 15:4-8.
Sources
*H.I. Hester, The Heart of the New Testament, (The Quality Press: Liberty, MO, 1963), 168.
