For six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of the Lord your God; on it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male slave or your female slave, or your cattle, or your resident who stays with you.
Young children often say, “I am not tired!” Their words insist they do not need a nap, but their actions often indicate otherwise. Though it doesn’t always make sense to adults, children instinctively fight rest. But many adults operate the same way. Many of us become get short-tempered, impatient, and act out when we have not taken the rest we so desperately need. Sadly, many of us see the need for rest as a sign of weakness.
For a child, rest is necessary for growth and development. Even though it feels like an inconvenience, it is a way of meeting their basic needs. As adults, it is easy to see rest as a barrier to our productivity but like the toddler, it is a major part of our growth and development. When we pause to rest in God, we are reminded we are made for Him. When we take a break from our to-do lists, we grow in trusting Him to meet our every need. The challenge, then, is how do we make our rest not only one from routine but also a rest in God? Notice that the rest God called Israel to affected the entire household. We all need this Sabbath rest that we so often fight not only for our physical health but for the sustenance of our souls also.
- What are some reasons you resist rest? Where in your life do you desire rest but make excuses for why it’s not possible?
- How can you submit these areas before the Lord?
- Pray and ask God to help you to learn how to take physical rest and to find rest in Him as you do.
