大象传媒

Good Morning,

Sometimes we need permission to rest. In our fast-paced world, we can become so caught up in the needs and desires of our lives that we feel pressured to be always on the go. So much of who we are can become about pursuing goals and betterment. Of course, there鈥檚 nothing wrong with pursuing the betterment of ourselves and others. But sometimes we can forget that the future does not solely rely upon our efforts.聽

Today is Saturday, the weekend, which traditionally marks a time of rest from the work we have to do. This tradition has roots in the ancient Jewish practice of Sabbath鈥攖he setting aside of the seventh day of every week as a holy day of rest. The practice mirrors the account of creation in the biblical book of Genesis in which even God rests from the work of creating the universe.

Whether one comes from a religious tradition that practices a day of rest or not, the wisdom of the discipline of rest can easily be missed if we let the practice pass us by. Resting brings great good for many reasons. Rest can release us from the burden of imagining we really can fully control the future. The practice of Sabbath rest is one way of giving us the freedom to recognize that not everything depends upon us.

Gracious and merciful God, you teach us that rest is good and by your own example, you give us the freedom to rest from our striving. Help us to learn the humility of rest for in resting we have the opportunity to remember that everything does not depend fully upon us. In the name of Jesus, Amen.聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽