The holiday that wore us out (and what Jesus says about rest)

Dear friend,

Gail and I came back from Walt Disney World and Universal in Florida. It was wonderful. It was also absolutely exhausting.

And I kept thinking on the flight home - why does rest so often not actually feel like rest?

I think most of us are living with a quiet confusion between distraction and restoration. We collapse in front of the television or lose an hour to scrolling, and we call it “switching off.” But if we’re honest, we often feel emptier afterwards, not fuller.

Jesus says something striking in Matthew 11:30 - “My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” I used to read that as a kind of spiritual promise that following Jesus would be effortless. It isn’t that. What he’s describing is a yoke fitted perfectly for the soul it’s carrying - like bespoke sportswear that enhances rather than hinders.

True rest, it turns out, often requires a little effort. Prayer. Creative expression. Meaningful conversation. Serving someone else. These things don’t always feel immediately relaxing. But they restore us in ways that passive entertainment simply cannot.

This week, I’ve been sitting with one simple question: what activities truly restore me - and what merely distracts me?

It’s worth asking.

I explore all of this in today’s short devotional - about five minutes. I’d love for you to watch it when you have a quiet moment.

▶️

With you in the journey.

Rob