Finding Joy and Rest on the Sabbath

One of the things I have been pondering lately is this verse, where Jesus says,

“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath." 

-Mark 2:27

Perhaps because my life has become significantly busier over the past nine months, with my return to school and the pursuit of a job. Maybe because the other night, my husband and I rearranged our home, and I was determined to finish it, despite my husband’s urging me to stop and rest. Either way, the idea of rest sounds appealing, but the practice of rest can be a bit of a challenge. 

Yet, I know that I am not the only one with this issue.  I love that God made men and women to be different and balance each other, but, in general, this seems to be especially true of us women. We see and process things differently from men. Most of my friends have said that it often feels like they are pulled in hundreds of directions at once. We can even put pressure on ourselves to live up to a certain standard of what we, or others, think a happy and successful life looks like.

But this is why we need to rest. When reading in Scripture about the Sabbath, we learn it isn't just a day to fellowship with others in church. It isn't a day to catch up on chores, food prep for the week, or go out to lunch. It can be all those things, for sure. Yet, the Sabbath is so much more than preparation and taking it easy. There are many things it was intended to be, but it is also important to remember what it was not designed to be. 

The Sabbath was never intended to be about legalism. When Jesus spoke those words in Matthew, it was to expose the flawed thinking and teachings of the Jewish leaders of the time. When their rules and how they practiced the Law became about looking good while ignoring the needs of others, He boldly pointed out the errors in their thinking. 

Jesus, having all authority and foremost knowledge of the Law, knew that the Sabbath was so much more than a day to practice the legalistic interpretation of Scripture. No one could know the intent of the Sabbath more than Jesus. 

The Sabbath is a blessing and gift from God. The Sabbath is a day of rest; however, it is meant to be observed in accordance with God's way. God created us and knows that we need time to refresh and renew.

God made the Sabbath with the intent of it being holy, a day meant to be set apart and dedicated to God. In Exodus, God said to Moses, 

"For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord  blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." 

-Exodus 20:11

One of the things the Sabbath should be is a day to leave the week behind. When God rested, it was after He created and declared all that He had made to be good. We can do the same thing. Although, unlike God, whose work was complete and good, ours may feel incomplete and inadequate. 

However, when we walk with the Lord, we can rest knowing we are in His will and exactly where and when He has called us to be. Everything we did, or didn't do, said or didn't say, can be given to Him, and left in His capable hands. 

The Sabbath should be a day of joy.

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day, if you call the Sabbath a delight and the Lord’s holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words, then you will find your joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken."

-Isaiah 58:13-14

God spoke these verses. He promises joy in the Lord when we honor God on the Sabbath. The Sabbath is supposed to be a day of gratitude. 

I read the other day that gratitude and anxiety cannot usually function at the same time in the brain. This means that when we practice gratitude and thank God for all He does for us, our anxiety diminishes. Using this day to be grateful will automatically help with anxiety. Just like when we leave behind what we perceive as failures to Him, gratitude will become an uplifting aspect of this day.

Lastly, the Sabbath is meant to be a day of worship. Psalm 92 is acknowledged to be dedicated to the Sabbath, and conveys the message that God deserves our praise because of His wondrous works and eternal faithfulness. Verse 8 says, "You, Lord, are forever exalted."

Reflecting on and leaving the week behind us involves dealing with the past, just as intentional gratitude represents the present, and worship prepares our hearts to give God glory during the upcoming week. Worship was never intended to be a one-time moment on a Sunday; it is a stirring in the heart daily, recognizing that our God is worthy of praise in all things and at all times. 

I hope that we all enjoy the Sabbath as God intended - as a day of reflection, hope, praise, and worship. 

Think About It

What is God teaching you about the Sabbath?

What can we learn about God through knowing that He created the Sabbath to be a day of rest and joy?

Pray About It

Dear Lord,

Many times, I think of the Sabbath as a day to fellowship and be in Your presence, and I am deeply thankful for my church community. But Lord, help this to be a day that my heart aligns with Yours - leaving the past week behind and entering the new week with a song of praise on my heart. -Amen  

Note: All verses are NKJV

About the Author

Andrea lives in Atlanta with her husband, John and their dog, Maya. She is currently attending Calvary Chapel University to get her degree in Biblical Studies with a minor in Women's Ministry. Andrea knows that Scripture has power and that God can do mighty things, as she has seen numerous times in her life. She prays that God will use her writings in a way that changes lives and brings Him all the glory.