Taking time out to rest!

Over the last bank holiday weekend, I went on a family holiday in the Peak District. It was beautiful and the views were outstanding, almost overwhelming in how vast and peaceful they felt. After a few weeks filled with meetings, time with church leadership, and visiting different congregations, it became a much needed moment to pause and simply rest.

In the Bible, we often see Jesus doing just that, stepping away from the noise, the crowds, and even the demands of ministry to be still. “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16). There is something deeply reassuring in knowing that even Jesus, in the fullness of His calling, prioritised moments of withdrawal and rest.

Standing in the quiet of the hills, with nothing but the sound of the wind and the occasional sheep in the distance, I was reminded that rest is not just a luxury. It is a rhythm woven into creation itself. From the very beginning, God modelled this pattern: “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.” (Genesis 2:2). Not because He was weary, but because rest is sacred. It’s a way of being, not just a break from doing.

Sometimes in ministry or in everyday life, it is easy to feel that stepping away means we are falling behind or letting something slip. But the truth is, rest is often where God meets us most clearly. In the stillness, our perspective shifts. The noise quiets and we begin to hear His voice again.

Where do you find rest? As I am writing this I am away at the Elim Leaders Summit drawing leaders in to a time of rest and renewal through worship and teaching. Perhaps maybe that’s what you long for to be surrounded by others and enjoy a time of worship and teaching and chance to receive for yourself. Join us for LoveRural in October.