Rest and Restoration

 By: Grace Metzger

Sabbath rest remains for God’s people. For the person who has entered His rest has
rested from His own works, just as God did from His. Let us, then, make every effort
to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

Hebrews 4:9-11

I remember several times in my past that when people were talking about the Sabbath and rest, I would just sit there so confused. People talked about they struggled to rest during this time, yet resting was my favorite thing to do. I never thought that would change, I thought that I would always make it a point to keep the Sabbath Holy. However, these last couple of months have felt anything but restful and peaceful. From working long hours, to helping out with family and church, to just a general lack of peace that does not allow me to fully rest in God's presence.

I didn't notice the toll it was having on me until this week. It has been chaos at work, from long meetings to angry people. I noticed myself starting to think awful things like, "I hope this bad thing happens so I can get off work for a few months," or "I hope someone robs this building so I can just go home." Awful, I know! I was mad that these thoughts kept coming up until I realize that I was burning myself out by not resting like I am called to do.

For the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything

in them in six days; then He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the

Lord blessed the Sabbath day and declared it holy.

Exodus 20:11

I wanted to fix this but I wasn't sure how. I tried resting on my free time but watching TikToks in my bed was not as peaceful as I hoped for. So I started to do a bit of studying on Sabbath. I think most people have at least a small understanding of Sabbath. The Bible talked about it in the first chapter by talking about God creating everything in six days and resting on the seventh. This part is always overlooked in my opinion. The Creator of the Heavens and Earths, the most powerful person to ever exist, the only person that does not need food or sleep, ended up resting. Why? I don't think it was because He was tired or because creating the earth was hard work for Him. I think God being an example to us, doing this so that we can look back and know the importance of rest. He knew His creations, He knew that we are the type to overwork ourselves, the type to get so focused on our phone we forget to truly spend time in His peaceful presences.

When the Lord gives you rest from your pain, torment,

and the hard labor you were forced to do

Isaiah 14:3

I started really trying to focus on what the Sabbath is. It's not a day where all you do is sleep around, as amazing as it sounds I don't think that that is what God was trying to say! I started to focus on what Sabbath was, it was a time where the Lord gives us rest from our pain, torment, and hard labor. It's a time to unwind from work, turn off our phone, get off of Netflix, and spend time with the Lord while He restores us. I don't believe that on the Sabbath you're stuck at home doing nothing, my favorite thing to do on Sundays is to go on a long walk and talk to God. I think the main focus isn't on the day, isn't on how much we sleep, but it's about a day were we are able to focus solely on being with God. 

By having that day where we're focused on Him and turned off the distractions of the world, we are able to find peace, restoration, and my favorite thing at the moment, rest. I challenge you this month to give this a try. It doesn't have to be on Sunday as well. Find a day where you can spend time with family and God and make that your Sabbath! Trust me you will notice a difference in every part of your life from your mental wellbeing to your physical wellbeing by doing this!

Discussion questions!

Do you struggle with rest?

How do you find time to take a Sabbath?