Famous Naps in the Bible
Jesus during the storm
The Garden of Gethsemane Nap
Post-feeding 5,000 Exhaustion
Peter in Prison
Daniel in the Lion’s Den
Joseph in an Egyptian Jail
While few things in the bible are ‘clear’, the Biblical argument for rest is strong. Throughout Christ’s ministry, not to mention the life and ministry of the saints and prophets, taking time to retreat, rest, pray, restore and rejuvenate oneself is a constant refrain. Jesus often goes off by himself to pray. Elijah finds solace in a cave. Moses goes up to the Mountain. Of course, there is also that whole ‘remember the sabbath and keep it holy’ commandment.
God knows we need rest. More importantly, God knows we need time to reconnect with God and with our families and loved ones, particularly in challenging and stressful times.
Quite a few of Jesus’ moments of solitude and sleepiness come right before or right after stressful events. Obviously, his time in the Garden prior to his arrest, and before the storm in the boat. But also, in Luke’s Gospel Jesus retreats to a quiet place to pray after healing the man with leprosy, and in Mark Jesus goes to an isolated place after he performs a series of healings and casts out demons. I can’t help but wonder if Jesus took breaks like this to both recharge and refocus himself.
Throughout the Gospels, we see the concern Jesus has with being seen as a magician, a faith healer, and one of the hundreds of ‘miracle workers’ wandering that part of the world in the 1st century. He wanted to make sure people understood he was something more. That God was offering them something more. Takes a break to remind himself not to get caught up in the crowds, to get pulled away by the moment, and to ensure that his eyes were always on the prize, the salvation of all of our souls.
During this sabbath time, we should consider our own mission, our own mindset, and our own desires. What are the things that God is calling us to do, what are the things we like to do for attention, and what are things we feel like we have to do because ‘We’ve always done it this way.’?
Taking a break, a step back is an opportunity to evaluate those who can see where God’s will intersect with our work, where we feel Christ alive in our ministry, and where we feel like we are just treading water. Now Jesus is always available to pull us out when the water is too deep, but he would much rather swim with us in the work. I know we would too.
So, as I go off to a quiet place to pray, I hope you all will do the same. In your faith life and in your personal and professional lives. Where is God calling you? Where do you feel frustrated? Unfulfilled? What can be solved with a Holy Nap? And What may require a reorientation of priorities?
My prayers are with you over the next three months, I do hope your prayers come with me as well.