Do you joyfully affirm the goodness and trustworthiness of God?
Awhile back I took a day to try that statement out.
I went to a nearby state park and spent the day exploring. I walked the trails, admired the trees towering above me, and watched the squirrels glide from tree to tree. I quietly listened to the leaves stirring in the wind, and I soaked in the fullness of God’s creation. I found myself amazed at God’s artistic work. He created this majestic sight with the speaking of a word. How powerful and mighty He is!
Over the course of the day my mind drifted to thanksgiving and gratitude as I recalled how I had been a recipient of this same amazing creativity and goodness. My heart wandered from worship song to worship song as I savored His presence and hummed How Great Thou Art and What a Beautiful Name It Is. My emotions weaved like the trails through the woods as I moved from joy to tears to awe to searching and back around. The Holy Spirit ministered to me in about every way possible that day. To say that I connected with God would almost be an understatement. I not only connected with Him, but I experienced Him in marvelous and profound ways.
Sabbath
Mark Buchanan in his book “The Rest of God” describes Sabbath (one of many descriptions he gives) as “joyfully affirming the goodness and trustworthiness of God.” [1]
What I love about this definition is that, for me, I have come to realize that it takes pausing in reflection in order to joyfully affirm God’s goodness. It takes ceasing from striving in order to joyfully affirm God’s trustworthiness. I “know” God is trustworthy, but until I let go of the striving to control my outcomes (which often means stopping in the middle of them to Sabbath), am I really joyfully affirming that I trust in God’s sovereignty?
What I think Buchanan is capturing is that the principle of sabbath is more than just a day or a pause to rest, it is an attitude. Just as a person can be busy and still be unproductive and slothful, so too can a person be pausing and not be joyful and trusting. Thus, Sabbath is not only about the day or the ceasing work, but about the attitude while doing it. It’s a mindset to relinquish control and savor our savior. Surely it involves pausing and resting, but one thing I gleaned from the book is that Sabbath is more about the heart than following the proper directions.
I am fully aware of the strain and pressure that confronts ministry leaders everyday. I know that ministry is the most rewarding and sometimes the most challenging task you ever face. With that said, it is one of the driving reasons why I think Sabbath is such a valuable practice.
Few guidelines given
“So how do I do this practically?” you may ask. “What does a Sabbath in my life look like?”
Interestingly, the Bible gives all sorts of directions to Christians. Guidelines on eating (take a look at Leviticus 11), clothing and the way you dress (1 Timothy 2:9-10) personal hygiene and caring for yourself (Deuteronomy 23:12-13 is a revealing one) as well as removing mildew, priestly garments, and much more. But the Bible gives very little direction on exactly how Sabbath is to be lived out. We are clearly called to rest and cease from work (Exodus 35:2), but outside of that the directions are minimal. There are generalities about celebrating, remembering, and observing but little in the way of guidelines are given.
As I reflected on this fact, I asked the question, “If the Sabbath was defined in legalistic terms and guidelines would it be a Sabbath at all?” If it meant following orders, it wouldn’t be about the heart or attitude, but rather about the task and getting it completed in order to move on. I think the beauty of Sabbath is that it gives freedom to enjoy Jesus in the fullest. Sabbath is a command given to save us from ourselves—to save us from the bondage of selfishness, rules, and duty.
Where to start
For me the practice of Sabbath came alive with a walk in the woods. For you it may be reading, eating, gardening, or listening to music. The point is, genuine Sabbath—joyfully affirming the goodness and trustworthiness of God—looks different for each of us. Buchanan’s book gives some great suggestions in the form of feasting, celebrating together, reflecting in thanksgiving, and observing creation around you, but never gives a formula to follow. It’s ultimately about you connecting with Jesus to be refreshed, reshaped, and affirmed in God’s grace and love.
My prayer is that you find your own unique ways of exploring the delight of knowing Jesus and experiencing the joy and rest that awaits you in Sabbath.
Growth Point:
Sabbath is about joyfully affirming the goodness and trustworthiness of God
Scripture Point:
Read Psalms 9:10 and ask God to reveal to you the meaning of this verse for your Sabbath.
Action Point:
Commit yourself to finding a day to Sabbath this upcoming week. Make plans to cease from working and intentionally engage in experiencing the joy of the Lord. Journal about your experience when finished.
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