“This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.”

Isaiah 30:5

A month ago, humid, hazy sunsets and the sound of cicadas humming reminded me that summer was winding down.

How did summer ending make you feel?

Rested and refreshed?

Stressed about heading back into the chaos of another school year?

Anxious about all to be done at work?

Question: Is summer the only time (if then) that you take a break, or do you have a healthy rhythm of work and rest throughout the year?

And while I’m asking questions, why is it so rare for us, as Christians, to obey God’s command to rest weekly?

Dorothy Bass writes that we’re likely to break any of the 10 commandments, but the 4th, “Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy” is the only one we BRAG about breaking. That’s because in our minds…

BUSY = IMPORTANT

Too much free time is evidence that we’re not needed.

We’re tempted to buy into the lie that we’re indispensable.

But living as though we are indispensable threatens to wreck our life because it puts us in the place of God.

“Whoa! That’s not me!” you say. “I would never be that arrogant!”

Ok, how about a little survey? For each of the following statements, would you answer: Never, Sometimes, or Always me?

  • You go through your day with a perpetual sense of urgency or anxiety, afraid you may drop one of the many balls you’re juggling.
  • You find yourself moaning about how busy you are, but secretly feel like it’s also a badge of honor that demonstrates your capacity and importance.
  • You’ve lost a sense of gratitude and wonder about life.
  • The first thing you do in the morning is check your phone – either emails or social media.
  • You have trouble sleeping, worrying about things you haven’t been able to fix or finish during the day.
  • You text or check emails while at stoplights or in line at the store (or at church, or under the table at restaurants).
  • You bring your laptop on vacation.

Now it’s my turn for confession:

I listen to podcasts on 1 ½ speed so I can cram more into my time.

One of the most difficult but most impactful spiritual disciplines of my life has been observing Sabbath. But it’s also been a practice that has surprised me with the joy, freedom, and renewed perspective it has brought.

For me, mainly that’s meant unplugging. Phone and computer.

When God gave us the 10 Commandments, the first thing He said was, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Clearly we have many gods we’re tempted to put before Him. Sabbath is one discipline that helps us correct that – become more aware, and experience the joy of a day that’s different.

When we rest we are trusting God to be God. He’s good at His job.

I get it. There are different seasons of life that make this challenging. I’m not advocating legalism (Jesus didn’t either).

Sabbath may look like you taking a morning while your spouse watches the kids, and then switching roles in the afternoon.

You may not observe Sabbath on Sunday.

You may observe Sabbath as a family together. What would it look like for your whole family to power off one day of the week?

Maybe the place to start is to confess our tendency to put ourselves in the place of God.

Lord, please forgive me for all the times I put myself, and the things of this world before You. Please forgive me for my inflated sense of self-importance. You alone are our all-powerful, sovereign, Creator. You keep the planets spinning. You have commanded us to “stand down”, to set aside a day for rest and worship. Help us to obey this command with joy.

If you’d like a couple of good books on Sabbath, check these out!

The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan 

Sabbath by Wayne Muller

Do you observe Sabbath? What has your experience been? You KNOW I’d love to hear from you! If you get this in email, just click on the title and it will take you to the site where you can post a comment. If it’s your first time, don’t worry if it doesn’t show up right away! And if you’re interested in some smaller doses of inspiration, join me over on Instagram. (You can turn on “notifications” in the upper right-hand corner if you want to know when there is a post.)