St Johns with St Barnabas

What do you think, is rest wasted time?  I think not, rest   is something we all need reminding about from time to time.  August is often the month of going away, especially if you are tied by school holidays.  Roads become busier, suitcases come out of the loft, and many people look forward to a break from the usual routine.  

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Yet not everyone goes away.  Rosie, myself and Mopsy, are taking a staycation this year, and much looking forward to it.  But whatever one’s circumstances, August reminds us of something we all need: REST.  

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Rest is often misunderstood. We can feel guilty if we are not busy, as though every moment should be filled with activity. We speak of just sitting, as if it were something we should apologise for.  

The Bible tells a different story. God himself rested after the work of creation, not because he was tired, but because he delighted in all that He had made.  He also gave his people a day of rest, knowing that constant activity was never His intention for us. 

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Rest is not wasted time. It is time to notice the beauty around us, to enjoy the company of family and friends, to read, to sit, to pray, to sit quietly in the garden, or simply sit still.  It is in the quiet moments that we often become more aware of God’s presence.  

Jesus understood this too, when His disciples returned tired from their work, He said, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ 

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Perhaps that is an invitation that we all need to hear.  

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Whether your August is full of travel or, like us, spent close to home, may you find moments to pause, to breathe deeply, and to remember that your worth is not measured by how much you achieve. Sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply to rest in the presence of God.  

May this month bring you not only sunshine, but also the quiet assurance that God is with you in both the busy days and the peaceful ones.