And that’s ok…
Over the last couple of years I have pushed myself very hard. I’ve written a number of Bible studies, started on a book, finished a Master’s degree, and almost a second one (MDiv). I led our church to baptize 18 people on one Sunday (20 for 2025 so far), created a discipleship system, and went on three different missions trips – all in addition to raising a family, preaching every week, and so on…
For the last year or more, every “day off” I’ve had, has generally consisted of working on a class, reading tomes of textbooks, preparing for sermons, or working on creating another Bible study. And if by chance I wasn’t cranking out more content, I was feeling guilty about the mountain of work still waiting for me.
Additionally, for the past year, I’ve been wrestling with some persistent health issues that have continued to add pain and stress to my routine. This has left me trying to continue operating at full speed on half a tank of energy most days. I haven’t discussed these issues much, as I didn’t want people to worry about me. For me, these health issues were an inconvenience – something slowing me down, that I needed to overcome. But what if it were something more…
Sunday night last week, I started to feel sick. I woke up Monday with a headache and feeling achy all over.
Great! Just what I needed. But for the first time in a while, I wasn’t leading our growing church through any major shifts anytime soon, I was finished with class for the next month or so, and the sermon prep and Bible study writing – it could all wait. I checked my emails, sent a few texts, and then realized, I can’t do this today. So I did something I rarely do: I took a 2-hour nap! Ask my wife, and she will tell you I almost never nap! I’ve been taking life a lot slower this week, sleeping much better, and trying to focus on only doing, what only I can do.
In Exodus 20, God commands the OT nation of Israel to observe the Sabbath day of rest and to “keep it holy… For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and everything that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day; for that reason the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11). Later on the NT, God affirms that we must “strive” to enter into God’s Sabbath rest for our souls, that is made complete in Christ (Hebrews 4).
The point of “Sabbath-ing,” as some call it, is not ultimately a matter of religious strictness. Rather, it is recognition that God formed all creation in six days and then stopped. And we’re not God, so we have no business trying to outwork Him. We are not busier or more important than the Creator of the universe! My friend and fellow pastor, Justin Buzzard, said it quite eloquently, “No matter what we do, one day we’re all going to die with a huge pile of unfinished work.” So why stress ourselves out trying to finish our never-ending to-do list? I’m not saying give up, of course! And I’m definitely not saying we should be lazy. But I am saying – from a lot of personal experience – that we will either rest out of obedience or out of over-exhaustion.
So sleep in on your day off.
Go on a date.
Take the PTO.
Read something that is not work/school related.
Eat great food.
Jump in the water.
Take a hike.
Touch grass!
Whatever you do, do not just sit and “doom scroll” the day away – that is not the same as resting! Be blessed this week. And realize that your rest after a hard day’s work is also an act of worship.
Blessings,
Pastor John