Choose Rest

I often share a humorous story with folks who are new to ministry or exploring their calling to ministry. I talk about my first day on staff as a pastor. I describe that day as very new and exciting, but I did not know what was expected of me, so I spent the first few hours of my day organizing my bookshelf and putting some things on the calendar, then spent the rest of the day reading my Bible. I usually end the story by saying something like this: “I haven’t had time to pick up my Bible since.”

This joke is loaded with truth. As leaders and ministers, we must be so careful that we do not become so involved with ministry that we neglect Jesus. We all know the dread of ministry taking priority over our marriage, our kids, our aging parents or grandparents, our dear friends, and so much more. But we must also protect and fight for, above all else, our relationship with our Father.

We can all agree on what ministry takes. It has a way of wringing every last drop out of you and leaving you bone dry. And in a way, that is the call to serve God with our everything. That is the call you accepted, surrendered to, and continue to live out day in and day out. We must be so careful to replenish our bodies, minds and souls with the very thing they require most. Rest.

I realize I am not where I need to be spiritually when rest becomes uncomfortable. This is not a notion I would ever say out loud but something I know to be true. As pastors and ministry leaders, we normally operate out of rush, not rest. We must rush to get everything done, we must rush to make it to our meeting, we must rush to pick up our kids from school. Life and ministry do not leave much time for rest, especially rest in the LORD.

Last year, I signed up for a conference I did not want to go to. I signed up because I knew I needed it but was reluctant to lean in on the rest that was offered at the Youth Minister Retreat. I had planned and expected two days of jam-packed conference sessions and networking, but as I drove into the secluded hills of the WorldSong Missions Place in Cook Springs, I found rest. The schedule was not packed, and there was a lot of time built in for adventure, dreaming and rejuvenation. Like I said, uncomfortable stuff for someone ravaged by ministry with no renewal.

My encouragement for each of you is to seek rest in the Lord and fight to keep that rest as a vital part of your life and ministry.

Elliot Weston serves as associate/student pastor for Shiloh Baptist Church, Hartford. Click here for information on this year’s Youth Minister Retreat.