April 2025 Women's Devotional Blog

Our women's ministry blog is up and running again for the 2024-2025 ministry year! If you are interested in being a contributing author, we would love to talk with you about that. Please reach out at women@gracecomm.org.

Oh the crowds, so many people with so many needs.  The disciples had been sent out by Jesus and returned to tell him all about their journey.  John the Baptist had been killed.  

“Then because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, Jesus said to them; “Come away with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
-Mark 6:31

Then there was that time at the cabin, with a water leak to fix, mouse poo to clean, and in the middle of the night the wood stove pipe pulled away from the ceiling and crashed to the floor.

What is with the middle of the night?

And can’t the God of the universe override gravity, thermodynamics, biology, and whatever other laws of nature exist to afford one of his weary children opportunity to get some rest???


Most recently, there was to be a 3 hour break in a beautiful setting.  I packed my walking stick, and studied the hiking trails.  But a parent in the hospital used up the time with phone calls, tears and prayers and the hike didn’t happen.

The crux of the matter is dealing with the disappointment I feel when things don’t go my way.  When the expectations and plans I make for my time are not met.  I am growing in trust, but still have so far to go as my immediate response to my Creator is; “i am offended with You.”

sigh.

And so we talk, He and i, and this One who is able to sympathize with my weaknesses, who has been tempted in every way, just as i have–yet without sin–He resets me. He realigns my understanding of His Character with the truth, He leads me to give Him the rightful place in my heart as the treasure of my life, i humbly confess my taking offence and need for His rescuing work. and i receive the balm of His forgiveness and saving grace.  He restores my trust in His goodness towards me, in His knowing, more deeply than i even know, what it is to seek rest and be interrupted. He says to me; "Come, My weary and heavily burdened child.  Come to Me.  I will give you rest.”

I will give.

He, Jesus Himself

gives rest.

He’s modeled for me a persistent pursuit of time alone with the Father–so that is something I will continue to do.  But because I am not in control, when the disappointments come, He alone is able to give rest anyway.  My Jesus is helping me to grow in my ability to receive it. Oh what a Saviour, oh what a Friend!