Even Jesus Pushed the Pause Button - Encouragement for Today - April 23, 2025

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Proverbs 31 Ministries banner

Leanne EsauApril 23, 2025

Even Jesus Pushed the Pause Button
LEANNE ESAU, COMPEL Pro Member

Lee en español

“… angels came and took care of Jesus.” Matthew 4:11 (NLT)

I shuffle into the kitchen, every movement weighted by a slurry of invisible cement. Leaning against the wall to prop myself up, my heart pounds, and a heavy fog muddles my thoughts. I’ve become a snail, barely able to move while life races around me. I try to harness the motivation that once empowered my actions, but I can’t. My energy tank is depleted. I need help; I can’t keep pretending I’m OK.

My diagnosis is double edged. The good news is I’ll get better with time. The difficulty is I must take a break and rest to heal. Not a three-week sojourn but a complete stoppage of activity for an extended period.

I groan and struggle — this is not easy, nor am I very willing. It feels wrong. An inferno of questions swirls in my mind. What about my family, work and ministries?

But then it's like Jesus asks me, What about you? You matter too.

Pausing my tirade as the churning within me calms, I sense the heart of Jesus. Each of us matters to Him. However, it seems impossible to prioritize rest. Our hectic lives are demanding, and in many ways, productivity is glorified while slowing down is shunned. Is it possible that it’s different with Jesus? Is it safe to push the pause button? To help me understand the value God puts on rest for His children, Jesus draws my attention to His personal story.

After Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the desert, the Gospel of Matthew documents a divine intermission: “Angels came and took care of Jesus” (Matthew 4:11). Intriguingly, in the space of these words, there is no recorded movement on Jesus’ part.

Instead, Jesus seems to have pushed the pause button on His activity, not rushing through this holy interruption. Jesus prioritized rest so He would be refreshed. He purposefully stopped to accept the divine nourishment sent from heaven rather than receiving His sustenance on the run as He raced to the next thing. In this sweet interlude, Jesus experienced the tender care of God the Father for the Son He loves.

God's Word assures us that we can do all things with the strength He gives us (Philippians 4:13). This “all” can include rest. In our active lives, there are moments when we need unhurried pauses to breathe. In some seasons, we need interludes of unrushed days or weeks to be refreshed. Other times, we require an extended hiatus to heal.

As God’s beloved children, we matter to Him. Through holy interruptions, God expresses His love and care for us. Indeed, we can follow Jesus’ example. If He pushed the pause button, it is OK for us to do the same.

Dear God, thank You for loving me and creating spaces for me to be refreshed. Help me see and understand when You position these spaces before me so I may enter them without worry and find rest as I receive Your tender care. Help me believe that I can safely push the pause button with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

You’ve spent time reading and studying God’s Word — but what if you could take the next step and confidently teach it to others? Whether you’re leading a small group, writing devotions, or speaking in a larger setting, “The Bible Teacher’s Blueprint” gives you a clear, practical framework to make Scripture come alive. With this FREE resource, you’ll move beyond personal study into impactful teaching that inspires, equips and transforms. If you’re ready to share God’s Word with confidence, download your copy today!

width


ENGAGE

Today’s devotion writer, Leanne Esau, is a member of COMPEL Pro Writers Training. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Pro on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Mark 6:31a, “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile’” (NLT).

Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NLT).

What hurdle or mindset makes it difficult to accept Jesus’ invitation to rest awhile?

Consider Jesus’ invitation to let Him teach you. He is gentle and humble in heart. Ask Him to show you one step that would lead to rest for your soul today.

We’d love to know your thoughts — share them with us in the comments!

© 2025 by Leanne Esau. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links


September 26 - Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts


November 2 - Detroit, MI
Zion Christian Church in Troy


October 6 - Los Angeles, CA
Pasadena Convention Center


November 5 - San Antonio, TX
Norris Centers – The Grand Red Oak Ballroom


October 8 - Sacramento, CA
William Jessup University


November 7 - Tampa, FL
The Palladium at St. Pete College


October 22 - Minneapolis, MN
Crowne Plaza AiRE


November 15 - San Francisco, CA
Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley


October 23 - Philadelphia, PA
Green Valley Country Club


November 16 - Denver, CO
CU South Denver - Formerly Wildlife Experience


November 2 - Chicago, IL
Chicago Westin Northwest in Itasca


November 21 - Cleveland, OH
Holiday Inn Rockside in Independence



Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

Sponsored by:

Even Jesus Pushed the Pause Button - Encouragement for Today - April 23, 2025

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

Proverbs 31 Ministries banner

Leanne EsauApril 23, 2025

Even Jesus Pushed the Pause Button
LEANNE ESAU, COMPEL Pro Member

Lee en español

“… angels came and took care of Jesus.” Matthew 4:11 (NLT)

I shuffle into the kitchen, every movement weighted by a slurry of invisible cement. Leaning against the wall to prop myself up, my heart pounds, and a heavy fog muddles my thoughts. I’ve become a snail, barely able to move while life races around me. I try to harness the motivation that once empowered my actions, but I can’t. My energy tank is depleted. I need help; I can’t keep pretending I’m OK.

My diagnosis is double edged. The good news is I’ll get better with time. The difficulty is I must take a break and rest to heal. Not a three-week sojourn but a complete stoppage of activity for an extended period.

I groan and struggle — this is not easy, nor am I very willing. It feels wrong. An inferno of questions swirls in my mind. What about my family, work and ministries?

But then it's like Jesus asks me, What about you? You matter too.

Pausing my tirade as the churning within me calms, I sense the heart of Jesus. Each of us matters to Him. However, it seems impossible to prioritize rest. Our hectic lives are demanding, and in many ways, productivity is glorified while slowing down is shunned. Is it possible that it’s different with Jesus? Is it safe to push the pause button? To help me understand the value God puts on rest for His children, Jesus draws my attention to His personal story.

After Jesus’ 40 days of testing in the desert, the Gospel of Matthew documents a divine intermission: “Angels came and took care of Jesus” (Matthew 4:11). Intriguingly, in the space of these words, there is no recorded movement on Jesus’ part.

Instead, Jesus seems to have pushed the pause button on His activity, not rushing through this holy interruption. Jesus prioritized rest so He would be refreshed. He purposefully stopped to accept the divine nourishment sent from heaven rather than receiving His sustenance on the run as He raced to the next thing. In this sweet interlude, Jesus experienced the tender care of God the Father for the Son He loves.

God's Word assures us that we can do all things with the strength He gives us (Philippians 4:13). This “all” can include rest. In our active lives, there are moments when we need unhurried pauses to breathe. In some seasons, we need interludes of unrushed days or weeks to be refreshed. Other times, we require an extended hiatus to heal.

As God’s beloved children, we matter to Him. Through holy interruptions, God expresses His love and care for us. Indeed, we can follow Jesus’ example. If He pushed the pause button, it is OK for us to do the same.

Dear God, thank You for loving me and creating spaces for me to be refreshed. Help me see and understand when You position these spaces before me so I may enter them without worry and find rest as I receive Your tender care. Help me believe that I can safely push the pause button with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

You’ve spent time reading and studying God’s Word — but what if you could take the next step and confidently teach it to others? Whether you’re leading a small group, writing devotions, or speaking in a larger setting, “The Bible Teacher’s Blueprint” gives you a clear, practical framework to make Scripture come alive. With this FREE resource, you’ll move beyond personal study into impactful teaching that inspires, equips and transforms. If you’re ready to share God’s Word with confidence, download your copy today!

width


ENGAGE

Today’s devotion writer, Leanne Esau, is a member of COMPEL Pro Writers Training. Receive writing tips on your social media feeds when you follow COMPEL Pro on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter!

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Mark 6:31a, “Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile’” (NLT).

Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NLT).

What hurdle or mindset makes it difficult to accept Jesus’ invitation to rest awhile?

Consider Jesus’ invitation to let Him teach you. He is gentle and humble in heart. Ask Him to show you one step that would lead to rest for your soul today.

We’d love to know your thoughts — share them with us in the comments!

© 2025 by Leanne Esau. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

See the Full Program Guide