Sabbath.

On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, 

and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  

God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, 

for on it he rested from all his work of creation.

~ Genesis 2:2-3 (CSB)

Creating margin.  Making room to breathe.  Ceasing from work.  Resting.  Observing Sabbath.  Blocking off white space days.  Worshipping God.

Sabbath, from the Hebrew “shabbath,” meaning “day of rest.”  God instituted the Sabbath on the seventh day of creation.  Genesis 2:2-3 tells us, "On the seventh day God had completed his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.  God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, for on it he rested from all his work of creation” (CSB).  We tend to think of rest in relation to tiredness or weariness, but was God tired from creating?  That can’t be.  Isaiah 40:28 says, “He never becomes faint or weary…,” so weariness was not the reason for God’s rest.  What is He asking of us then? 

Verse three tells us that God blessed the seventh day of creation and made it holy.  It was a sacred day.  God declared this day holy.  Did you catch the word "declared?"  God spoke, and the physical universe came into existence.  God spoke and made rest holy.  This was an act of creation.  If resting for God was not an act of rest, perhaps it was an act of recognition – a time to recognize the holy.

God commands us to rest.  Therefore, resting is an act of obedience, a time for us to make space for the holy in our lives.  Rest for us is also actual rest.  It is a time to cease from our regular work.  

When I observe the Sabbath, I don't do my regular work.  I do not work on anything for teaching or writing.  I stay off social media.  I pray, read the Bible, and journal.  I go for hikes or bike rides.  I make good food, read fun books, and take naps.  These things help me make space for joy and recognize the holy.  I experience more peace and gratitude, and I see God a little more clearly.  

This day of rest is also a day of recognition.  I recognize the fingerprints of God in my life and can give Him honor and praise.  This day gives me the space to realize my limitations.  I cannot keep going, doing, or producing.  I have to stop.  The Sabbath shows me how much I need to rely on God and helps renew my relationship with Him.

After the Sabbath, I notice I am rejuvenated and more hopeful.  The challenges of my week no longer seem as intimidating.  I am more hopeful because I know God will meet me in my place of need.  In my surrender to Him by observing the Sabbath, I am more likely to turn to Him every other day of the week when I run into concerns, worries, and problems.  

As a side note, I also do not observe the Sabbath on Sundays.  Sunday is the traditional day of rest for many Christian communities.  I learned several years ago that it does not work for me.  Sunday is a day that often triggers anxiety and panic for me, so I have transitioned my perspective and now view Sunday as the first day of my work week.  I’ll go to church, but then I’ll do my grocery shopping, do any writing I need for the week, do final preparation for my teaching, and complete tasks for my second job.  Sunday is more of a preparation day rather than a rest day, and in viewing Sunday as such, I am better able to face the challenges of my week.  This is just what I have found works for me.

I am not always successful in observing the Sabbath.  Some weeks I'll take the day and barely recognize God.  Other weeks, I skip it altogether.  And I have to say, it matters.  The weeks when I do not observe Sabbath are not the same.  My relationship with God is not quite as healthy because I have not made space for Him.

What do you need to do to make space for God, and what might be keeping you from making that space?

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As part of our September Series, each post will have a challenge for you each week.  Drop a note in the comments or on Instagram @avmccoy20 to let me know how it goes.

Challenge for the Week:

An intentional time for Sabbath can be difficult to carve out on a whim, so be intentional this week about planning for Sabbath.  How do you want it to look?  What do you want to include?  If you can’t make it work for a full day yet, set aside a specific block of time you can do (it doesn’t have to be Sunday).  How do you feel after celebrating Sabbath?  How did Sabbath impact your relationship with God?