Sometimes, even in the busyness of life and ministry, we hear Jesus gently whisper what He once said to His disciples:
Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.
Mark 6:31
In the rush of doing good, serving others, and carrying the burdens of everyday life, it’s easy to forget just how important it is to pause—to take time to rest, recharge, and simply be with the Lord.
Rest is not weakness; it’s obedience. Jesus Himself modeled it.
Every time I visit Norway, I’m reminded of how powerful this kind of rest can be. I love to spend a few quiet days there with dear friends—laughing, praying, sharing meals, and most importantly, spending quality time in God’s presence. There’s something so refreshing about it, something that touches not just the body, but the spirit and soul too.
One of my favorite things to do while I’m there is to go fishing. Now, that might sound like a hobby, but to me, it’s also a picture of prayer. When you fish, you always get one of three answers:
Yes—you catch something.
No—not today.
Or Wait—keep trying, it’s not the right moment yet.
Just like prayer, isn’t it?
These quiet moments—on the water, with friends, in God’s Word—remind me of the importance of caring for the whole person. We need to nurture not just our ministries and our work, but also our hearts, our minds, and our spirits.
I want to take a moment to thank my precious friends in Norway for always welcoming me so warmly and making space for rest and fellowship. You bless me more than you know. I’m excited to share that next Sunday I’ll be speaking on Kanal 10, and I’m already looking forward to being back in September for a special conference.
To all of you reading this, I encourage you: make time to rest with the Lord. Step aside, breathe deeply, and let Him restore you. Because when we’re refreshed in Him, we have so much more to give to others.
Amen!