The Freedom of Missing Out
BRENDA BRADFORD OTTINGER
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“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31 (NIV)
The neon numbers on my nightstand clock insisted it was midnight, yet it felt like midday to my active mind. Weariness swept my spirit as the enemy nagged with notions of angst that night.
Lord, how can I continue to show up when I feel burned out? I softly questioned. Trying to fill every moment of opportunity left me feeling empty of rest.
Dear friend, can you relate to being in that place of striving to do it all, quietly feeling weary and worn but afraid to miss out on something meaningful if you slow down?
We may often hear the acronym FOMO, meaning “fear of missing out.” But what a lullaby it would sing to our spirits if instead we embraced a different kind of FOMO — the freedom of missing out.
Jesus shared this freeing mindset with His disciples in Mark 6:31: “Because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’”
If anyone knew the value of showing up for those around Him, it was Jesus, the Son of God, whose mission was to save the world. Yet Jesus didn’t fear that rest would cause Him to miss out; rather, He understood that rest would preserve His mission.
Notice those three little words of Jesus’ tucked into our key verse: “Come with me.” There was no shortage of opportunities for Jesus and His disciples to engage with the people around them, yet Jesus didn’t engage nonstop. He invited His disciples into quiet rest with Him, preserving their capacity to fulfill their calling.
On that weary night of mine, the Lord reminded me that freedom abounds in the calm of His company. Just as Jesus invited His disciples to escape the bustle and embrace His rest, He offers this freedom to us, His cherished daughters.
May we quiet our expectations and honor our limitations, prayerfully opting out of opportunities that exhaust our capacity to fulfill God’s mission in our lives. And in the calm of our time with Jesus, may we seek His wisdom for what is ours to do right now and what is not.
Fear not, friend! We can trust the Keeper of our days. God won’t let us miss His best for us because we choose to rest with Him.
Oh, that we’d sense His invitation to the freedom of missing out. When we trade the rush of activity for the hush of His presence, our spirits are free to rest in the peace of His plans.
Dear Lord, thank You for being my refuge of rest from a bustling world. Please order my days for Yourself. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
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FOR DEEPER STUDY
Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (NIV).
How might getting away with Jesus for rest and reflection offer freedom and insight to your days? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
© 2026 by Brenda Bradford Ottinger. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
Originally published Thursday, 19 February 2026.
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