Come Away and Rest

A Body, Soul, and Spirit Response to Inflammation

Over the years, I have purchased so many books relating to health. The body, especially the brain, has always fascinated me. I have always had the desire to age well, which has caused me to read a lot of information—especially about inflammation and how deeply our spiritual and physical health are related to it.

I have experienced more pain in my body in the last couple of years due to degenerative spine issues and a fall that partially tore my rotator cuff. I have been doing exercises to strengthen my core and shoulder, and it has helped tremendously over time to reduce the pain I experience.

While I have typically eaten healthyish, I am not beyond enjoying the treats that pop up from my daughter’s baking hobby. I also have a hard time saying no to crackers, and I seem to have accumulated quite a few from my recent snow-apocalypse shopping adventure. One thing I am moving toward, though, is adding more anti-inflammatory foods—such as berries, dark leafy greens, high-fiber foods and grains, and sweet potatoes—to my diet, while avoiding things like processed foods and those that are high-fat, greasy, or sugary.

But food isn’t the only thing that can inflame us.

While I was walking the other day, I was thinking about other types of things that inflame us—namely spiritual inflammation—and how the outside world impacts our spirit and soul, and what God’s Word says about handling it.

Scripture shows us that Jesus understood the weight of human need—and responded with intentional retreat. He handled overwhelming demands during His earthly ministry, yet He too needed to take care of His whole self by staying connected to God. He needed to refresh so He could continue His mapped-out journey to the cross.

Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted—both physically and mentally. News of His healing spread rapidly, even when He told those He healed to tell no one. The healed leper couldn’t contain himself.

“But even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.”

When this happened, “he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.”
(Luke 5:15–16)

After the disciples shared with Jesus about the beheading of John the Baptist, “he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself.” However, when He saw the crowd forming on the shore, “he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:10–14)

Jesus invited others to rest. The disciples were doing so much work that they didn’t even have time to eat. Jesus said to them,

“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest for a while.”
(Mark 6:30–32)

When Jesus knew it was His time to suffer on the cross, He retreated from His disciples “about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed” in the Garden of Gethsemane. (Luke 22:41) It is clear Jesus knew He needed God’s strength to fulfill His mission.

Jesus retreated when:

• The crowds pressed in

• The grief was heavy

• The decisions were weighty

• The suffering was imminent

Inflammation can be good, serving as the body’s God-given alarm system—alerting us to danger, prompting us to flee what is harmful, or initiating healing after injury or stress. In this way, inflammation is protective, even merciful. But when the body remains in this heightened state for too long, inflammation becomes chronic, quietly wearing us down and contributing to ongoing physical conditions as well as fear, anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion. What begins as a signal can turn into a burden.

From a spiritual standpoint, prolonged inflammation mirrors what happens when our inner lives remain constantly activated by pressure, unresolved pain, or relentless striving. Our attention narrows, our hearts grow weary, and our eyes slowly drift from God’s presence to our own survival. Instead of listening to His leading, we become consumed with managing symptoms—physically and spiritually—losing sight of the rest, trust, and restoration He offers as part of His call on our lives.

If the King of kings needed to retreat, it should give us pause—permission to tend to our spirit, soul, and body as God’s beloved creation. In the quiet and desolate places, He heals what has been strained, forgives what we have carried too long, and prepares us for what lies ahead.

As women, we walk through many transitions—some chosen, some forced, all demanding. While we cannot control every circumstance, we can choose how we respond. We can choose rhythms that restore rather than inflame. We can choose to step away, even briefly, to remember who sustains us.

Jesus invites us:

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