“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.” (Mark 6:30–32, ESV)
Busyness in the Work for God
Busyness is king in our world. Modern society and high-pressure consumerism have drilled one belief into us: the busier we are, the more respected we become. Busyness has become an indicator of our diligence and eagerness to do good and get ahead. But while we are busy making a living, we have forgotten to live and enjoy life, which is tragic. Perhaps even more tragic is the subtle danger that many committed followers of Christ have adopted: a mindset of busyness in their work for God. We often do it for the best possible reasons. We know that time is short. We want to accomplish the most for Him. Therefore, we strive to be busy. We want to be good stewards of our time and talents. It feels good to be busy for God, and sometimes we are tempted to think that God will reward our busyness for Him, only to discover that in our busyness for God, we have lost our living connection with our Redeemer. We are doing good things out of habit, not in the power of the Holy Spirit. And the busier we get, the more we deem ourselves in line with God’s purpose. Busy becomes the new norm. We are so busy glorifying how busy we are that we miss the moments in life that really matter. Busyness crushes our spiritual vitality. Hurry is the enemy of any love relationship, especially our relationship with the living God of Scripture. Love demands the attention of unhurried time.
The Duty to Rest
No wonder that the God of Scripture repeatedly calls us to stand still, to pause, to watch what He will do for His people (2 Chron. 20:17; Psalm 37:7). God encourages His children to un-hurry. He knows how quickly we lose sight of Him when our minds are wrapped in a whirlwind of human activities. One of the most beautiful insights into the danger of constant busyness for God is found when our Lord Jesus took the liberty in His own ministry to rest. Ellen White beautifully captures this important aspect of His ministry with His disciples: “They had been putting their whole souls into labor for the people, and this was exhausting their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest” (The Desire of Ages, p. 360).
Busyness crushes our spiritual vigor and effectiveness. Hurry is the great enemy of our love for God. Rather than adding more items to our calendar, let’s intentionally reduce and make room for meaningful, soul- invigorating quiet time with our Creator and Savior.
Let’s pray together.
Prayer Time (30–45 Minutes)
All prayer groups have different ways of praying together. We encourage you to spend the next 30-45 minutes in united prayer, in whatever way the Holy Spirit leads. We encourage short conversational prayers (1-3 sentences). This allows for more people to pray multiple times. Below are some examples of praying through Scripture based on the theme. You may pray through other passages also and include other subjects in your prayer time. See the Leader’s Guide and World Church Prayer Requests for prayer ideas.
Praying God’s Word — Mark 6:30–32
“The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.”
“Come Away”
Father, we have been so busy doing Your work that we have forgotten it is your work. Thank You for reminding us of our need to come away, to take a break, to take a breath. Thank You that we are not machines but human beings. Forgive us when we have made our busyness an idol or when we have built our worth on how much we accomplish for You. Please turn our busyness into faithfulness. Amen.
“To a Desolate Place”
God, we have surrounded ourselves with too much noise, too many things, too many distractions. Whether we spend our time working for the church or engaged in other endeavors, we recognize our need to step away and spend time reflecting and resting away from the busyness of life. Please give us the grace needed to carve out time alone with You daily to breathe and focus on what truly matters. Amen.
“Rest a While”
Loving Jesus, when You walked this Earth, You understood humanity’s need for rest. Thank You for exemplifying the balanced life we ought to live. Show us what proper rest looks like and how we can rest regularly to recharge and refocus. Amen.
More Prayer Suggestions
Thanks and Praise: Give thanks for specific blessings and praise God for His goodness. Confession: Take a few minutes for private confession and thank God for His forgiveness. Guidance: Ask God to grant wisdom for current challenges and decisions.
Our Church: Pray for regional and world church needs (see separate sheet with requests). Local Requests: Pray for current needs of church members, family, and neighbors.
Listen and Respond: Take time to listen for God’s voice and respond in praise or song.