Take Some Time Off Work (Jesus Did!)
September is here. We’re nine months into the calendar year and approaching the final quarter of 2022. This time of year, many people realize they have paid time off they’ve neglected to use. Although most of us would agree that taking time off occasionally is a healthy thing to do, we often hesitate to use it due to the demands of our job.
Whether you plan a vacation, staycation or the occasional afternoon off, it's important to take a break from the pressures of work in order to perform well for the long haul. Some of the benefits you may reap when you take a break include:
Reduced stress
Rest, both physically and emotionally
Sharper thinking and refreshed creativity
Healthier personal relationships
You may not have realized it, but Jesus modeled “time off” for us. Very often He was surrounded by crowds, with barely enough time to eat or catch His breath. He went from preaching in a synagogue to casting out a demon to healing a sick friend and then ministering to the crowds gathered at His door at sunset...all in one day! (Mark 1:21-34)
Right after this crazy day of work, Jesus took time to restore his mind, body and soul. We can learn a lot from his example in these verses from the Gospel of Mark:
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for You!’ Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’ So He traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.” (Mark 1:35-39).
1. He was intentional.
Stepping away from the demands of work to refresh your soul doesn’t just happen. Jesus was deliberate about it, getting up early while everyone else was still sleeping. Notice Jesus also went to a “desolate place.” Today, that might mean finding somewhere to be alone for an afternoon, silencing notifications (or turning your phone off completely) and making yourself inaccessible for a while.
2. He prayed.
Another one of Jesus' secrets for maintaining perspective, margin and balance? He made prayer a priority. Has your prayer life become routine amid a busy, chaotic life? Carve out an extended time to have an honest conversation with the Lord and ask Him to refresh your soul, restore your peace and reestablish your priorities. What an awesome honor God has given us to allow us to come directly to Him and tell Him what is on our mind and ask Him directly for help. One thing I have found very helpful, is after I have finished giving thanks to God for all He has done for me and prayed for others, I then tell God I am going to be quiet now and I ask Him to put on my heart the things He wants to say. It might be someone I need to pray for or someone I need to call, or it might be an answer to something I have been asking Him to give me discernment about. Keeping silent allows God to speak, rather than me doing all the talking. Give it a try! And always make it clear that you want God’s will to be done.
3. He let others take the reins for a bit.
Jesus is the only indispensable person who ever lived. He was in constant demand, yet he was fine with leaving Simon and the others in the position of having to track him down. In the right situations, it’s okay to make ourselves hard to find. If people at work really need you, they’ll track you down. In the meantime, another capable colleague might step up in your absence and leave you wondering why you didn’t take some time off a lot sooner!
Stepping away from the demands of work is a necessity, not a luxury. God doesn’t need our overworked, stressed-out help to accomplish His plans. We must slow down every once in a while, surrender control and enjoy a reprieve. When we do that, we make space for the Lord to speak to us, redirect us if needed and restore our energy and clarity.
Throughout Jesus’ time on earth, He demonstrated the importance of balance and incorporated periods of reprieve into His life often. In the book of Matthew, He offers this gentle instruction:
“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, MSG).
That’s a great passage to place on your desk as a loving reminder to take some time off!
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