Encouragement for Today
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April 23, 2025 Even Jesus Pushed the Pause Button |
“… angels came and took care of Jesus.” Matthew 4:11 (NLT)
I shuffle into the kitchen, every movement weighted by a slurry of invisible cement. Leaning against the wall to prop myself up, my heart pounds, and a heavy fog muddles my thoughts. I’ve become a snail, barely able to move while life races around me. I try to harness the motivation that once empowered my actions, but I can’t. My energy tank is depleted. I need help; I can’t keep pretending I’m OK.
My diagnosis is double edged. The good news is I’ll get better with time. The difficulty is I must take a break and rest to heal. Not a three-week sojourn but a complete stoppage of activity for an extended period.
I groan and struggle — this is not easy, nor am I very willing. It feels wrong. An inferno of questions swirls in my mind. What about my family, work and ministries?
But then it's like Jesus asks me, What about you? You matter too.
Pausing my tirade as the churning within me calms, I sense the heart of Jesus. Each of us matters to Him. However, it seems impossible to prioritize rest. Our hectic lives are demanding, and in many ways, productivity is glorified while slowing down is shunned. Is it possible that it’s different with Jesus? Is it safe to push the pause button? To help me understand the value God puts on rest for His children, Jesus draws my attention to His personal story.
After Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the desert, the Gospel of Matthew documents a divine intermission: “Angels came and took care of Jesus” (Matthew 4:11). Intriguingly, in the space of these words, there is no recorded movement on Jesus’ part.
Instead, Jesus seems to have pushed the pause button on His activity, not rushing through this holy interruption. Jesus prioritized rest so He would be refreshed. He purposefully stopped to accept the divine nourishment sent from heaven rather than receiving His sustenance on the run as He raced to the next thing. In this sweet interlude, Jesus experienced the tender care of God the Father for the Son He loves.
God's Word assures us that we can do all things with the strength He gives us (Philippians 4:13). This “all” can include rest. In our active lives, there are moments when we need unhurried pauses to breathe. In some seasons, we need interludes of unrushed days or weeks to be refreshed. Other times, we require an extended hiatus to heal.
As God’s beloved children, we matter to Him. Through holy interruptions, God expresses His love and care for us. Indeed, we can follow Jesus’ example. If He pushed the pause button, it is OK for us to do the same.
Dear God, thank You for loving me and creating spaces for me to be refreshed. Help me see and understand when You position these spaces before me so I may enter them without worry and find rest as I receive Your tender care. Help me believe that I can safely push the pause button with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Mark 6:31a, “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile’” (NLT).
Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NLT).
What hurdle or mindset makes it difficult to accept Jesus’ invitation to rest awhile?
Consider Jesus’ invitation to let Him teach you. He is gentle and humble in heart. Ask Him to show you one step that would lead to rest for your soul today.
We’d love to know your thoughts — share them with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Leanne Esau. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org