The Sabbath is a trust fall

We put so much pressure on ourselves to “make a living” that we snatch that promise away from God.

‘I am the Lord your God,’ I told them. ‘Follow my decrees, pay attention to my regulations, and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’ (Ezekiel 20:19-20)

I used to hate attending HR functions at my office job. I understood why they were important in theory, but they really just felt like a waste of time. Have you ever been to a HR event where you had to practice trust falls? Ugh.

I can’t stand trust falls. And, yes, I have trust issues. Thank you, I’m very much aware. And that just makes trust fall exercises even worse. To have to place your faith in another person to catch you as you fall blindly backward? Yeah. Thanks, but no thanks.

But you know what I realized? The Sabbath is a trust fall.

Taking a day off from working is an exercise in faith. It’s a choice we make to rely on God to provide for us rather than relying on ourselves.

It’s so hard to stop working, especially when you feel like you don’t have enough. We put so much pressure on ourselves to “make a living” that we snatch that promise away from God. God has promised to provide for us. He has promised to take care of us. We don’t need to work so hard all the time.

Yes, work hard. Don’t be lazy. Do your job. But recognize that there is a difference between taking a day of rest and choosing not to work when you’re capable of it.

If you’re working on a day when you should be resting, stop.

Just stop.

Ask yourself why you’re doing it. Are you doing it to make extra money? Are you doing it to earn something you think you need? Are you doing it to make yourself feel worthy or secure in your job?

Beloved friends, please hear how much I love you when I say this: None of those reasons are enough to disobey God.

Yes, there are always exceptions, and God knows your heart. He knows your situation. He sees you. But don’t just shrug it off. Don’t rely on His abundant grace as an excuse to disobey Him.

Taking a day of Sabbath rest is a sign of our dependence on Him. It’s a sign of our faith in His provision. God is worthy of our trust, so take a day off. Lean on Him. Let Him take care of you.

Questions for Reflection

• Why is it so easy to forget that God wants us to rest?

• Where do we get the idea that increasing our performance will make God love us more?

• Why do you think God values obedience?

Weekly Memory Verse