“I’ll rest when I get to heaven.”
I’ve heard this statement a few times and have uttered it myself in my younger days.
The slogan speaks to the pressure some of us feel to make our mark and leave a legacy. When there are so many needs in the world, we can’t just sit around!
James states, “‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
There is so much truth in his summary statement: “Faith without works is dead.” Christian hypocrisy and apparent apathy are indictments leveled at the church by the social justice onlookers. Christ’s love should compel us to love others.
But the pressure can unknowingly shift our identity to what we do instead of who, or whose, we are!
The difficult part is that overworking is celebrated by everyone around us, even in the church, as long as we can pull it off with a smile. And we wonder why so many pastors and key volunteer leaders eventually get burnt out.
Boundaries are often viewed as weak, selfish, or uncommitted. We praise the people who show up to everything, rarely checking in on how they are doing. Is this the type of life Jesus invites us into when He says, “My yoke is easy and My burden is light”? (Matt. 11:30)
I recognize this unhealthy extreme, yet struggle to live differently.
When I hear of somebody guarding a Sabbath each week, I view it similarly to fasting – it’s impressive, but in the optional extra credit category. I have had it on my “should” list for a very long time. I know it’s good, but why don’t I approach it with a sense of gravity?
The more I have studied Sabbath, the more convinced I am that it is an essential part of our spiritual lives. It teaches us dependence, gratitude, trust, and rest in a very practical way. It fosters deep connection with community and with God. It even benefits us emotionally, mentally, and physically.
It’s almost like the Creator of the universe worked it into His design for a reason. Maybe it should be more of a priority when it is woven throughout all of Scripture.
In one of the busiest seasons of my life – guiding Theodyssey, going to school, parenting four kids ages 15 down to 1 – I consistently go to bed surrendering the tasks I didn’t complete. I constantly feel like I need more hours in the day. One could argue my schedule is way too full to fit in a Sabbath Rhythm.
Yet it is one of my primary goals. Trust, dependence, rest, and gratitude are all crucial in this season, and Sabbath creates the possibility for all of them.
I believe the “doing” – the many tasks and responsibilities on our plate, as well as the Kingdom possibilities in front of us – will be even more fruitful when it is anchored in “being.” God will work through us instead of us carrying it ourselves.
I’m excited to step into this with all of you, learning and experiencing the life God invites us into. This will be a season of small steps, slight shifts, and big rewards.