Come Away

Mark 6:31 NIV Jesus said to them, come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.

What’s better than a good vacation? Setting your daily cares and worries aside, resting from never-ending tasks and to-dos, and unplugging from work and an overflowing inbox. Whether you love the mountains or the beach, the bustling city or the quiet country, we all need to get away from time to time. But more than a temporary diversion, what we need is a constant place of peace and rest; exactly what the Lord offers us every moment. But are you taking advantage of his offer?

No matter how hard you search, the world will never provide you with true peace and rest. John 16:33, “in this world there will be trouble,” is a truth that we are seemingly reminded of on a daily basis. That is why Jesus called to his disciples and to us with the open invitation to “come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:31.

David knew all too well this need for peace and rest. His own father considered him unworthy when Samuel came looking for Israel’s next king. Jesse presented all his older brothers but left him in the field tending sheep. Talk about father wounds. Then King Saul’s affection turned to jealousy, and he raged against David, spending more than 10 years chasing David to kill him. From facing beasts, giants, suicide missions, attempts to overthrow his kingdom, civil wars, endless battles with enemy nations, and the consequences of his own terrible decisions and sin ---- David was keenly aware of his need for peace and rest, and there was only one source. “The Lord is my shepherd, He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Psalm 23:1-3.

Psalm 91:1-2 tells us there is only one place to find peace and rest: “He who dwells in the secret place, the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” The term “secret place” comes from the Hebrew root word cether, which means “to hide or be concealed.” The same word is used in Psalm 139:15, “My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.” God does the greatest work of molding and shaping our lives in His secret place. When we intentionally and purposefully come away with him, when we hide ourselves in him and spend time alone with him, he is free to make us into the person he intended.

In Psalm 91 God promises His presence, power, protection, deliverance, and salvation to the one who dwells with Him in His secret place, trusting and loving Him, finding all of his value in God, and staying connected to Him day in and day out. All these promises of God “because you have made the Lord, the Most High, your dwelling place.” Psalm 91:8. This secret place is not a physical location but the state of peace God gives in the midst of trials and attacks when we put our trust in Him.

Notice that God does not invite us to visit the secret place but to “dwell” there. To dwell means to live there, to become our permanent address. God invites us to pack up and move to His secret place. But to do so we must walk away from the clamor and enticements of the world. We must be willing to quiet our hearts before Him and allow Him to fill those inner recesses we reveal to no one else. The secret place implies honesty and trust. We cannot join God in His secret place unless we are willing to be transparent and honest with Him, fully surrendering, taking up our cross to follow Him. God has a secret hiding place, and He invites each of us to join Him there.  “Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

2 Corinthians 6:16-17 NIV As God has said: I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.

Matthew 6:6 NIV But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 11:28 NIV Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

2 Chronicles 15:4 NIV But in their distress they turned to the Lord, the God of Israel, and sought him, and he was found by them.

Philippians 4:6-7 NIV Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalms 27:5 NAS For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Psalms 32:7 NLT For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.

Psalms 61:3-4 NAS For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalms 119:114 NAS You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word.

Psalms 23:1-3 NIV The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 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.

Psalms 27:1 NIV The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalms 91:4 NLT He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Isaiah 40:11 NIV He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 41:13 NIV For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Song of Songs 2:10 NIV My beloved spoke and said to me, Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come away with me.