Maybe you’ve seen this 30-second commercial for the job-search site, Indeed.com:  A young girl (I’m guessing about 7 years old) walks on a crowded urban sidewalk holding her dad’s hand and says, “Truth is, my schedule’s pretty jam-packed these days.  I’ve got school Monday through Friday, jujitsu on Thursdays, and library books I’ll get back by Friday.  And my weekend I’ve got two, wait, no, three birthday parties on Saturday.  And Sunday, that’s my me-time.  I am not willing to give that up.”  Then her dad shows her his Indeed.com job preferences specifying no work on weekends, and he asks her, “How does that look?”  She replies, “Works for me.”  (And then a potential employer looks at the dad’s profile and says, “Works for me.”)

The child in this ad represents people of all ages.  We jam-pack the schedule (or it’s packed for us) leaving hardly any time to stop and breathe until the weekend, if then.  So it’s understandable that many who are overloaded will put their foot down and say, “Sunday is my me-time!”  Understandable but unfortunate.

To be sure, God designed us for a rhythm of work and rest, and our rest should include some down-time—when you can unwind and relax.  Of course, I realize that in some seasons of life (like parenting small children) it can be hard to find a quiet minute in which to “be still.”  And I also realize that different people find rest and refreshment in different activities—take vigorous recreation:  for some it’s revitalizing, for others depleting.

But even if finding or defining rest is tricky, it’s vital to pursue it.  Jesus calls us to come to him for “rest.”  The key thing about the rest he offers is that it’s not “me” time but a place to fix your eyes on him and focus on his all-sufficient power and love.  And the irony is, if you come to Jesus to gaze upon his splendor (see Psalm 27:4), in the end it will bless you:  you’ll be refreshed.  And so:  come join us in worship this Sunday, and every Sunday!