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Sabbath Rest is extremely important for us. Our best example of partaking in Sabbath comes directly from God. In the Genesis Creation Story, God rests at the end of a week of creating, which is reflected in our 7-day week and in the command to keep the Sabbath day holy in the Ten Commandments.
As a Human, God the Son in the form of Jesus also took time to rest. Jesus often went by Himself to pray, even though those times alone tended not to last very long as others, included His Disciples, interrupted His time for reflection and rest.
Right now, we are in some serious need of Sabbath Rest, and I mean that on a global scale. As a world, we have become more and more divided as nationalism, tribalism, prejudice, and racism have seeped into all of our nations' hearts and borders. We need a break to stop, regroup, and heal.
We are in the midst of a terrible health crisis, and part of loving one another means taking that seriously and doing what we can to prevent the spread of disease. People have died and will continue to die for some time due to COVID-19, and I do not want to detract from that fact. But the one positive from this time of social distancing and isolation is that we can now take the time for much need rest and renewal. We all have the opportunity to take some much needed Sabbath Rest.
We should also remember what Sabbath is really all about. It is not just about resting from our labor, but it is also about being present with God. That is what we mean when we say to keep the Sabbath holy.
If we are to truly heal, we need God's help. Take this time and let God into your hearts. Be renewed and restored by God's love and grace. Allow yourself to rest in our Lord.