The More I Fought this, the More I Needed It

 Categories : A Culture of Listening Listening to God

 

Sometimes we fight the thing we need most. Since we’ve been talking about increasing our capacity for God’s glory, I need to be honest with you about how God made room for more glory in my life, and how I resisted it.

When we first talked about observing the Biblical Sabbath (Shabbat in Hebrew), I was like, “Sure, no problem. God says to do it, so we’ll do it”. Then when we started doing it, I sounded more like a child who’s just been told they need a nap. “Rest?! But I’m not tiiiiirrrred!”

There isn’t much to argue with. The instructions to keep Shabbat are pretty simple. We’re told to remember it, to keep it holy, and to do no regular work (anything connected to our livelihood.) Since the Biblical day starts at sunset, Shabbat goes from Friday evening to Saturday evening. There are few things we’re commanded not to do, and there’s vast freedom in what we can do.

A weekly Sabbath is a natural reset button for your mind and body. So many of us have forgotten what it even feels like to relax. Exhaustion feels normal. Taking a weekly Shabbat reacquaints your body and mind with rest, so you can be more aware of tension throughout the week and learn how to diffuse it.

shabbat

When observed on a wider scale, Shabbat is a great equalizer. Everyone regardless of their status has the “luxury” of a day off to connect with God and with family. Whether you experience God’s glory through Bible study, prayer, nature, music, or time with loved ones, keeping Shabbat gives you a whole day for those activities.

Usually, the more someone fights the concept of Shabbat, the more they need it. I’ve had people tell me “There’s just no way I could take a day off!” They’re forgetting that by keeping Shabbat, we’re imitating God, who rested from His work on the seventh day. Resting is a way of remembering His work and living the truth that it’s enough. Who am I to say that I can’t? Is my work more important than His?

For me, taking a day off meant facing reality: the world goes on spinning without me. And when you really stop, you suddenly notice every dirty dish, every scrap of paper, every stray sock. It’s so tempting to think you’ll rest when everything gets done.

It’s a trap.

That moment never comes. I fought this truth: those things will be waiting for me when I’m done resting. So one day a week, I give up my quest for ‘clean’ and ‘orderly’ to pursue the treasure that’s already mine.

Taking a day off increases your productivity the other six days. But the best reason to do it is that God did it, and told us to do it. It’s a way to become more like Him.

What’s the biggest barrier to rest in your life?



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  • Lynn

    Thank you for writing this article Hannah. I couldn’t agree with you more. God knew that most people would forget or that they would follow traditions more than His Word. Hope you and your family had a blessed Sabbath.

    • mlekallio

      Thank you, Lynn! Blessings to you!

  • Stephen El

    Hannah,

    I enjoy your blog, and this post especially, struck a chord. As the son of a Seventh-day Adventist minister, I grew up with the Sabbath. But for a youngster and the legalistic times we grew up in, it was more a pain in the butt than a blessing. Not that my parents didn’t try. But due to the pressures of “being the example to the rest of the church” and other religious conformities inflicted upon our generation at the time, it was more about what you couldn’t do than what you could do. I wasn’t really aware of it at the time, but later in life I met plenty of folks whose strict Sunday keeping practices made our Sabbaths look like a free for all. While no longer “in the church”, I am a practicing follower of the teachings of Jesus and the Sabbath is still a part of my life. In fact, it is my favorite day of the week. It has become a day for me to attempt to completely unplug from secular life and the grind of daily routine, to have the time and energy to really focus on my relationship with God, and I’ve found that when I have the freedom to do that, the focus naturally turns towards others. It’s not always easy, hence the “attempt” qualifier. But the more habitual it becomes the easier and more liberating it is. No trips to the store. Nothing like standing in a long check-out line to derail your Sabbath peace. Leave the day’s mail in the mailbox. Those bills and junk mail can wait a day. Unplug from electronic devices as much as possible. Unless I’ve made plans ahead of time with friends, the phone pretty much stays on the dresser for the day. And except for checking out some good sermons or spiritual blogs, the internet is a no go. Don’t need the unending onslaught of depressing news and celebrity gossip. The Sabbath has also become a day to get involved in community service projects. It’s a great way to connect with those in your immediate surroundings, both those who have very little and those who seem to have everything yet lead very lonely lives. For many, a day like this seems unrealistic. But trust me. Once it becomes habitual, you’ll wonder how you ever did without it, and the quality of every aspect of your life will be greatly enriched.

    • mlekallio

      Thank you so much for sharing your description of how you keep the Sabbath. It sounds very replenishing. I’ve also had people tell me that it’s unrealistic. Knowing what a good Father God is, He wouldn’t give us instructions we couldn’t follow. I’m so thankful to hear you found your way out of an observance that wasn’t life-giving, and found a life giving way to keep this commandment!