Reader
What’s your unfiltered response to this question:
“Do you allow yourself to experience the restorative power of sabbath rest on a regular basis?”
If it’s anything other than a simple “yes” or “no” … if you instinctively want to explain all the reasons why you mean to but can’t seem to find the time … You will find no judgment here. I get it.
I've spoken to many women who struggle with rest, especially allowing themselves to experience the restorative power of sabbath rest.
I admit that I’ve not always done this well and it’s an important rhythm that I continue to work on in my own life.
We as women are created to be nurturers, each stage of our lives feeling continually pulled to care for others yet struggling to care for ourselves.
We become….
- Wives who take care of husbands.
- Mothers who take care of children.
- Servant leaders who take care of our church family and community.
- Grandmothers who take care of our grandchildren.
- Daughters who take care of our aging parents.
It's easy to assume that being a nurturing woman is our "true calling".
But it’s not our FIRST calling.
God sees us as so much more than the identities we place on ourselves.
So what is our FIRST calling?
I’m reminded of when the Lord calls Abram to leave his country and his family, promising to make him the father of great nations (Genesis 12). Abram takes his calling very seriously and goes on to settle in the land of Canaan.
Then God gives Abram this reminder .
“The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are,....Arise, walk through the length and the breadth for I will give it to you.” (Genesis 13:14-17)
God wants Abram to look beyond what he can see. God tells him to “arise, walk through” — He doesn’t want Abram to get too comfortable where he is.
Abram's response?
“He moved his tent and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” (Genesis 13:18)
Abram paused, looking beyond what God put in front of him, shifting his gaze onto the Lord in worship.
His FIRST calling.
So how do we pause, look beyond our calling as nurturing women and allow ourselves to see where God first called us…..back to HIMSELF?
We must see that we are FIRST:
His bride
His child
His servant leader
His daughter
It is here that we reclaim our true identity in HIM.
Returning to our story, in Genesis 17, we find that God changes Abram's name. God inserts the Hebrew symbol for HIS own name to create this new name: Abraham. God’s name is literally embedded in Abraham’s new identity.
Isn't that incredible!?!
As we encounter God through the restorative power of sabbath rest, our hearts are exposed, it changes the way we view the world. We look up. God invites us into what He's really doing. When we slow down and enter His presence with this intent we hear the gentle whisper of His voice which guides our calling to go forth.
Friends, I've experienced this first-hand!
Sabbath rest returns us to our FIRST calling.
I invite you to continue reading about the restorative power of sabbath rest in my newest article found in the Spring Issue of The Sisterhood Magazine. And I hope you will explore the restorative power of sabbath rest in order to tap into the discovery of your FIRST CALLING given to you by our Almighty God.