Break Away, Find God
James 5:13 — Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.
Don’t forget to take care of you. Even Jesus went off to pray.
And I’m so moved by that.
Jesus walked with His disciples all the time. He was constantly surrounded, constantly needed, and yet there were moments when He would look at them and say…
“Stay here. I mean it. You pray over there, and I’m going to go over here. I’ve got to spend time with My Father.”
It sounds funny, but I think that’s so good.
We love the idea of being available, being helpful, and being everything for everyone. But even Jesus—fully God, fully present, and fully loved—did not live life with constant access.
He stepped away on purpose, not by accident.
James writes, “Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises.” In other words, no matter what season you’re in, your first response is to bring it to God.
Jesus modeled exactly that.
He needed those quiet moments with the Father, not because He lacked strength, but because He showed us where true strength comes from.
So, I hope you’ll take this to heart. It’s okay to take time for you and the Lord.
It’s not selfish. It’s not extra. It’s necessary.
Honestly, I think a lot of us are worn thin because we skipped that part. We kept pouring out without getting filled back up. But rest isn’t a reward for being done. It’s part of being faithful.
There’s a rhythm to life and spiritual health, so let’s follow His example.
Maybe the holiest thing you could do today is step away.
Just you. And the Father.
Pray if you’re hurting. Praise Him if you’re rejoicing.
And come back whole.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- When was the last time you intentionally stepped away to spend uninterrupted time with God?
- Are you trying to pour into others without first allowing God to refill your own heart?
- Whether you’re carrying a burden or celebrating a blessing, how can you make prayer your first response today?
