Recently I have noticed an increase of stress in my life connected
to to-do lists and schedules. I have not been that busy, but some days I have
dealt with pressure from others as they drop last-minute, high priority tasks
on me and other days I have dealt with the guilt of not spending enough time on
important things, like language learning, or connecting with Romanians. As guilt,
pressure and stress have built, I have found my instinct has been to withdraw
in unhealthy disengagement.
However, last week, a friend from home challenged me to
determine a Sabbath – when to take one, and what it would look like. To be
honest, I have never consistently observed a Sabbath day – unplugged from the
connections and worry of life and the world. I questioned the challenge – was it
realistic to expect I could take a Sabbath with everything else going on in
life? Wasn’t it irresponsible to ignore important tasks or not answer calls and
messages immediately?
And then I realized, I have not been trusting God with the
use and control of my time.
Mark 2:27 says “Then
he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
God designed us with a need for rest every week. When we never stop, it makes
sense for the stress and worries of life to become overwhelming. But what if,
by resting one day, we became more productive in the other six? What if, by
resting in the Lord, we could be so satisfied and filled up with the Spirit
that we just overflowed the rest of the week? The Sabbath is a day designed to
bring peace, joy and satisfaction to our lives.
“…if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own
way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your
joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the
land…”
[Isaiah 58:13-14]
[Isaiah 58:13-14]
So over the weekend, I enjoyed a Sabbath. For me, the biggest
thing was being free from guilt and worry. I allowed myself to ignore the
stressful ‘work’ things and instead just be in the presence of God. It wasn’t
about doing nothing or zoning out watching a TV show. It was about doing things
I enjoy that help me connect to the Lord. I sat in the morning sunlight,
reading and journaling. I went for a walk and enjoyed a bit of autumn. I got
out my colored pencils and crayons and tapped into my creative side. It was not
a productive day, but it was beautiful and restful.
Taking a Sabbath was the first step. Now I am trusting God
with the rest of my week. I am trusting in the rest and satisfaction He gave. I
am sure it looks different for each person, but I encourage you to consider how
you can rest in the Lord and trust Him with your time.
