If you feel/have ever felt overworked, overextended and completely exhausted, this is the read for you! Pastor/Leader/Speaker/Author John Mark Comer speaks from his own burnout to encourage others to live the Jesus lifestyle, and in doing so, to reclaim what we’ve lost of our mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health. Comer refers to “hurry” as a sickness that does violence to our souls and says that most of us are too busy to follow Jesus. Ouch!
In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus extends an invitation to adopt His lifestyle. He offers a way to shoulder the load of life. Comer references Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase from The Message: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Comer recommends these four practices for unhurrying your life:
- Silence and solitude
- Sabbath
- Simplicity
- Slowing
Speaking from someone who has experienced mind-numbing exhaustion due to an overbooked lifestyle, this book is a Godsend. I hope it will be for you as well. One of the big takeaways for me is Comer’s emphasis on Jesus’ practice of silence and solitude. Specifically, he cites the 40 days spent in the desert after His baptism.
The Greek word for “desert” is eremos, which can also be interpreted as “deserted place, desolate place, solitary place, lonely place, quiet place, wilderness.” In those few weeks and throughout His life, Jesus sought eremos to refresh and connect with God. We can and must do this as well. We don’t have to lead a hurried life. It’s certainly not God’s will. I pray you’ll give this book a read and regain your eremos.
