A prayer for good rest, by Christine Brown, read by Lea Martin.

Truly my soul finds rest in God, my salvation comes from Him, Psalm 62 1.

I don't think I'll ever sleep through the night again, my young friend and mom to a newborn

spilled. Was it so long ago she could drop into dreamland whenever she wanted?

Now her pattern or lack thereof meant grabbing a few moments whenever her baby cooperated,

which wasn't very often. We all long to experience a good rest every night, but for most of us,

comes in waves. Hectic schedules, unexpected circumstances, and more get in the way of the sweet

sleep we crave. Jesus appreciated our need for rest. He knew the dangers of pushing our human

bodies beyond physical limits, but he also understood those times when life wouldn't allow for a

consistent eight hours a day. So what do we do in those hectic times when we want a good night's

rest? But sleep seems elusive. One day Jesus's disciples gathered around him and reported all they

had done and taught, as it says in Matthew 630. They were exhausted. So Jesus suggested a quick getaway

from the crowds to find relief. He said to them in Matthew 631, come with me by yourselves to a quiet

place and get some rest. People ran ahead and waited for the disciples to arrive hungry to hear more.

No time for rest. Just like my friend with a new baby relying on her for food,

God's children needed what the disciples had to offer. Those sleep deprived, they continued ministering

until late in the day. Since they didn't get the chance for physical rest in that moment,

the disciples relied on the sole satisfying rest that only comes from God.

They learned a precious lesson, one that still brings truth to our lives in the most uncertain times.

When we don't have time to rest, let's reconnect our souls with the Prince of Peace.

These faithful men eventually found rest. In fact, scripture says Jesus

immediately made his disciples get into the boat, while he stayed behind to send the people home.

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