You speak of weariness and a longing to see the sea and mountains, and you ask for prayer that God would grant you travel and outward rest. I do not dismiss your fatigue; the body is frail and can be exhausted by many labors. Yet I must first ask you to consider what true rest is, and where it is found. You say it has been seven years since you saw the seaside and two since you had any holiday, and you miss these things. But tell me, if you were to stand on the shore tomorrow and breathe the salt air, would your soul find its deep rest there? The waves roll in and roll out, and the sights that delight the eyes pass away. There remains a rest for the people of God, not made by hands, not bounded by shore or summit, but an eternal rest in the life to come. To that rest all our journeying must aim.
I do not forbid you to ask for refreshment of the body. The Lord knows we are dust. He who led Israel through the sea and through the wilderness gave them springs of water and manna from heaven. But remember: they were being led to a promised land, and their hearts were often seduced by the comforts of Egypt. Do not make the mistake of thinking that a change of place is the cure for a soul grown weary under the sun. The rich man who lounges in baths and reclines at sumptuous tables may be walking the broad road that ends in destruction. The narrow road that leads to life often goes through arid places, and yet even there the traveler may have a joy the world cannot give. Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice. The God of love and peace will be with you, whether you are by the sea or shut up in a narrow room.
I will pray for you as you ask, that God in His mercy may provide some time of bodily repose and perhaps a journey to the coast or the hills, if it be His will and no hindrance to your soul. But if you really want me to pray with you, I will pray much more that you learn the secret of resting inwardly even in toil. What grievous thing does Christ command? Not to cleave mountains or cross the sea, but to love one another and to carry His easy yoke. Covet earnestly the best gifts, and above all charity, and you will find a well of refreshment springing up within you that no holiday can match. The hands minister, the mouth speaks, the whole body works, yet the heart can be at rest when it possesses the love of God. This is the rest that remains, and no one can take it from you. So by all means, ask your Father for what you need, but seek first His kingdom, and let your chief holiday be the peace of Christ in your conscience. Then, whether you travel or stay, you will know that you are already journeying home.