Rest for the Soul: 8 Days With JesusSample

Day 3 – “Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.”

Jesus doesn’t only invite us to come to him; he also calls us to get away with him. In Mark 6:31 (NIV) we read: “Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ ” The context matters: the disciples were spent after intense ministry, and Jesus didn’t say “work harder” or “push through”—he led them apart to rest.

The rest Jesus promises isn’t merely physical—though it includes that—but spiritual and emotional. To “get away” with him is to disconnect from noise, nonstop demands, and hurry in order to connect with his presence. In that intimacy, the soul is restored. “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:2–3, NIV).

Surrounded by pressures, responsibilities, and expectations, it’s easy to lose sight of who we are and why we live. Jesus reminds us that recovering our life isn’t about productivity but presence. In solitude with him, we find clarity, purpose, and renewal.

Withdrawing with Jesus isn’t always easy. We live in a culture that idolizes hurry and efficiency. Setting aside time with him can feel wasteful when the calendar is full. Paradoxically, the busier we are, the more we need time alone with Christ. “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine… I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4–5, NIV).

Recovering your life means rediscovering your true purpose: to be a branch connected to the Vine. Fruit doesn’t come from isolated effort but from abiding in Christ. Getting away with him isn’t abandoning responsibilities; it’s gathering strength to live them well.

Jesus isn’t asking for an annual retreat only; he’s inviting us into a regular habit of being with him—daily prayer, a quiet walk, an occasional spiritual retreat. The form matters less than the intent: stop running and simply be with Jesus.

Ask yourself: When was the last time you set aside intentional time to be alone with him—no agenda, no long list of requests—just to listen and enjoy his presence? Our souls often feel empty because we keep giving without receiving. Jesus reminds us we weren’t made to live disconnected from him.

Today, the invitation is clear: get away with Christ and recover your life. Rest in his grace, rediscover your purpose, and let him restore what weariness has worn down.

For Today

• What keeps me from carving out time alone with Jesus?
• What practices can I build in to “get away with him” regularly?
• How might my life change if I prioritized intimacy with Christ over hurry?