Rest Is An Act Of Faith
Written by Debby Baril
I cleared my workspace, drew the curtains together, and headed for the door. “We always know when it’s 5:00 p.m. because we hear the sound of Debby’s curtains closing,” was the running joke at the office.
We live in a world that equates overtime with dedication and commitment. Somehow the hectic pace of our lives is proof that we are important or significant – needed. We complain about how busy we are but then compete with one another to prove who is busier. We wear busyness as a badge of honour and are suspicious of anyone who takes breaks or chooses to withdraw for a time of rest. Am I being too harsh? On the other extreme, guilt envelopes us, if we even think of taking a break, because it seems so wrong to be sitting down when there are so many things that need our attention.
Wisdom from above set in place the importance of rest. Genesis shows that God worked for six days creating the cosmos, and on the seventh day He rested. And “God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.” (Genesis 2:3)
Perhaps we need to reclaim the freedom that is found in practicing a Sabbath rest, without fixating on one specific day, creating a rhythm of life that includes consistent times of rest. The truth is, we are too busy not to rest.
A Sabbath rest reaffirms our humanity and that we are loved just as much when we are “resting” as when we are “doing.” It enables us to break away from a performance-based Christianity where we wonder if what we are doing is ever enough.
A Sabbath rest reminds us we are not the Savior; we are not the answer to every situation. It fosters humility as the weight of responsibility is placed back on the shoulders of our God who is more than able to work out His plans and purposes in every situation.
A Sabbath rest renews our energy as we exchange our life for God’s, acknowledging all our time and energy ultimately are a gift from God and belong to Him. As we rest, our minds are sharpened, our hearts rejuvenated, and our bodies strengthened resulting in increased creativity, productivity, and perspective.
God calls us into a place of rest and our response is an act of faith and surrender that requires us to trust Him, acknowledging that our ceaseless labour is not the answer, and that He is the true source of our provision.
Friends, even as I write this, I know there is more depth and wisdom to God’s commanded rest than I have even begun to glean. It’s a small foretaste of something yet to come; something yet to capture. Perhaps even a recapturing of the ideal day in the Garden of so long ago, when God rested, settling into that space with His presence and inviting us into its blessing.
Will you step out in faith and answer the call? “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
