Real Hope: Sabbath RestSample

Time To Refresh Your Soul

Rest is vital. God, our Father Creator, knew that rest, and the preparation for rest, is vital for our souls. Rest has been a holy part of life from the beginning… ‘On the seventh day – with the canvas of the cosmos completed – God paused from His labor and rested. Thus, God blessed day seven and made it special – an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping, because God rested from all the work He had done in creation that day’ (Genesis 2:2–3, VOICE).

The pace and pressure of life can tell us there aren’t enough hours in the day for rest – deep soul-refreshing rest. It can tell us every hour must be filled with ‘work’ – commitments with family, friends, clubs, professional commitments, and then racing from one event to the next… [insert your pressures here].

Yet God knew, as He knit us together, we would need rest from our labours to thrive. On a biological level, after three days without sleep we start to hallucinate. Which leads me to consider, how long has it been since we gave our soul rest? How is this impacting our lives?

‘Then Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made to serve us; we weren’t made to serve the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 MSG). More than just church on a Sunday – Sabbath rest is made to serve you, reminding you to refresh your soul and reconnect with God. Consider what restores your soul? When do you spend time connecting with God and building this relationship? What’s one simple thing you can implement today to intentionally create space for the rest you need to (re)build your soul?

Written by NATALIE BENNETT