This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” – Isaiah 30:15
I’m one week into my goal of spending six weeks with God. Even though I know God speaks through his word, I’m still amazed when he speaks to me through his word.
I read the above passage earlier this week and was struck by the idea that salvation is found in rest. Obviously salvation from sin is only found in Jesus, but salvation from the distress and turmoil facing Israel was partially found in rest.
As Christians we often acknowledge the importance of rest and Sabbath yet, like the nation of Israel, we often have nothing to do with it.
We often live our lives like Frodo, pressing on toward Mount Doom without ever stopping to take a break. We think that whatever task we have is too important to stop and rest. And, like Frodo, we get consumed with the task and can think of nothing else.
We lose sight of the peace we can have within the midst of tasks, projects and problems when we’re singularly focused on said tasks, projects and problems. Life is never going to stop being busy, it’s just going to get more and more cluttered. If we can learn how to rest within the midst of that busyness, though, we’ll find our salvation and obey one of the more easily forgotten commandments.
I like that Frodo kept going, often times without stopping to sleep or eat. None of us are Hobbits, though, and none of us have been tasked with destroying the source of evil within Middle-earth. Most of the time, the fate of the world doesn’t hang on us completing our tasks, projects and problems. And more often than not, we can give better energy and focus to our tasks, projects and problems when we’ve had a bit of rest.
So take some time to rest this weekend, whatever that looks like for you. Go on a hike. Read a book. Enjoy a meal with friends. Not only do we find salvation in our rest, but God is also glorified through it.
So it’s not just a nap, it’s a holy expression of God-honoring rest.
In what ways you rest and take Sabbath?
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