Patheos

BuddhistCatholicContemplativeEvangelicalGeneral ChristianHinduJewishLatter-day SaintMuslimNew VisionsProgressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Patheos

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

insideourgooeyminds

Sometimes, It Is Okay to Rest

Last updated on: August 16, 2022 at 2:12 pm   by Mark Williams

Sometimes, It Is Okay to Rest 2022-08-16T14:12:46-07:00 Mark Williams

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

williams/williams

SOMETIMES, IT IS OKAY TO REST

Sometimes, a refreshing beverage is just enjoyed. In the right place, it glows like a welcoming beacon from a comfortable lighthouse to ships at sea for long periods of time. It could be a soft drink, a non-calorie sparkling water, a beer, a glass of wine, or even a good scotch whiskey. The drink signifies a time when rest is in order. When life and the business of it, can take a seat and for a moment or three, it is just us, looking at the gift of time. There is no hurry or place we need to be. That will return soon enough. Today, as I write this, it is Friday. For most, it’s the end of the work week. For others, you’re just starting. But to all of us, find that moment, that brief respite and allow yourself to just be.

We can get too busy….

We can get so busy, we refuse, actually refuse to enjoy the life we have been given. “I wish I could, but I got too much to do.”

We’ve all said it. Each of us have postponed the enjoyment of life for the struggle of life. I get that. We have to work to eat and sometimes that work is long, hard, and seemingly endless. Jesus got tired, sometimes, of the crowds and the needs demanded of him. He was living in a human body and it had limits. He was experiencing, for the first time since the world began, the demands on his kids and the cost it wrecked on them. I think it caused Him to love us more. If that was even possible. He, I believe, became aware of just how much this world can wear out a body and thus, the heart which drives it.

The picture, yes, I took. It was right before the waiter delivered jalapenos wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cheese. Yes, I am drooling writing you this just thinking of the memory again. I was meeting my son in law, after I talked him into sharing with him the combination of the pepper/bacon/cheese wonderment at a restaurant near us. I sat waiting when the drink came and it looked just like that. Like it was on fire, only—well—colder. For a few moments, the place was empty, the pause between lunch rush and happy hour.

It was peaceful.

The world is spinning

The world is spinning, the clocks are running, and we all have to be or do something in the next day or, as far as we know, the train will wreck.

Or will it?

If you’ve read any of my posts, I have mentioned The Plan about 700 times. God has a plan specifically designed for us. He is that big. With that, this plan is perfect. The challenge for us, is we want to read the last chapter to find out how it’s going to go, how will this race we are in turn out?

Paul is the man!

I love what Paul said. I think he is one person in history I would want to meet. You know the question. We’ve all been asked it. If you could meet anyone in history, who would it be? The politically correct answer in front of your friends from church is Jesus. Of course, that answer stumbles out right after Abraham Lincoln or Paula Abdul. But Paul, well—he made the big switch. He went from hating Christians to being the critical mass component in the early days for them. I think when he said ‘why do I do sh—  I shouldn’t do, and not do sh—  I should do?’ he became relatable. Yes, I might have empowered the quote a bit.

He was speaking for me, you, the guy on the bus, all of us. Here is a guy who was the tip of the spear for Christianity and he is still asking that question. That made me feel a lot better, about where I was in my faith and life in general. “Oh, the guy who wrote a bunch of the New Testament is struggling too? AND THEN HE ADMITTED IT?” I’m in!

There is much to be done in this life and in The Plan we have signed up for with Dad. All I can say is He is perfect so His plans are perfect and He loves me perfectly. He adores me, even in the middle of my mess ups. He picks me up, dusts me off, and whispers in my ear ‘try it again.’

Allow yourself to believe there is a God who loves you like that.

Have it be a game changer

It’s a game changer.

 

www.markjwilliams.com

www.patheos.com/blogs/insideourgooeyminds/about

 

 

 

Relationships and Religion

enjoyment

Give thanks

rest

Uncategorized

allow time to rest

enjoying god

resting in god

Trusting God

About Mark Williams

Mark Williams spent the first twenty-one years of his career as a Special Agent for the Organized Crime Division of the State Attorney General’s Office. As part of his duties, he investigated organized crime, homicides, and fraud cases submitted by other agencies to that office. He has traveled across the United States as an instructor for law enforcement in various capacities. After he retired, he became a high school English teacher at an inner city school in central Phoenix where he is the fourth generation in his family to live in the valley. Mark has published eight novels, paperback, e-book, and audio and can be found on Amazon or easily through Mark’s website at www.markjwilliams.com. His idea of the perfect ending to any day is curling up in his comfy bed with a good book and reading until his eyes cross. Mark was married for almost thirty-eight years and has been widowed since 2018. He has three children, and ten grandchildren. He currently resides in Phoenix. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post



June 5, 2022

No One Knows the Outcome

Next Post



June 18, 2022 Dad-Men-Happy Father's Day


Browse Our Archives

Select a Category answering prayer death Does God Need us? engaging with God enjoyment Faith in Chaos fear Freedom from sin Gifting Give thanks God allows suffering God and Mothers God conquer fear God feeds us God lifts us God loves us God protects us God suffered for me God's acceptance God's design for us God's devotion God's freedom God's love God's perfect plan God's playfulness God's protection God's voice Gods mercy inspires us Jesus as Christ Jesus loves us Loneliness My gift old age Our Lord has a sense of humor pain prayer rest Send me Lord Stability in Christ Standing firm Uncategorized What if Jesus Widows work

Select a Month August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021


Follow Us!

Follow Us on Facebook Follow Us on Twitter



TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who prayed for rain after a long drought and sent his servant to look seven times?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Isaiah Samuel Hosea Elijah

Related posts from Inside Our Gooey Minds

Family

Now, How About a Bike Ride?

Inside Our Gooey Minds

Family

Standing the Watch

Inside Our Gooey Minds

Family

You Are With Me....

Inside Our Gooey Minds

Family

Or the Gentle Drooling Lick of a Dog

Inside Our Gooey Minds

TRENDING AT PATHEOS General Christian

The Iron Gates and the Lion of the...

  Yesterday, I didn't finish my report about, well, yesterday.  So I'll...

Dolly Parton’s Last Song Wins Dove Award with...

Bluegrass band The Grascals, speaking on the red carpet at the 57th...

The Image: On the Horror of Capitalism and...

The Image Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might...

Thoughts about Halloween

We are approaching the date of our new American national holiday: October...

Letters on Living the Faith by C.S. Lewis

Most of us met C.S. Lewis as a public intellectual. Mere Christianity....

When Halloween Unmasks Married Hearts

Written by Dr. David K. Ewen from Eternal Truth Bible College Behind...

view all General Christian blogs

Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Copyright 2008-2026, Patheos. All rights reserved.

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos Patheos on Facebook Patheos on YouTube