There are certain topics in Christian conversations that tend to make me cringe… the Sabbath has been one of those avoidance prefered topics.

About a year ago, I sat at the dinner table with my community group and found my voice rising into NOT a sweet Sunday morning kind of tone as I proclaimed that honouring the Sabbath was impossible in my life and I was mad about any expectation or command about it. Literally mad. Voice raising, face going red kind of mad. About being commanded to enjoy a day of rest. Seriously, what is wrong with me!?!

Seems being called to rest doesn’t sit well with me and it drags up all sorts of frustration, envy and disappointment. My life is hard. I work REALLY hard to make it all work. But, if its true that God commands Sabbath rest, and that God intends it as a gift for me, then it has to be possible. God wouldn’t ask me to do something He wasn’t willing to equip me to do, would He?

Must tell you, I didn’t go home from that meeting anything but mad. I didn’t have a lightbulb God-breeze kind of moment where it all made sense and the Sabbath was suddenly an easy gift to receive and implement in my life. I didn’t leave with peace or joy or contentment. Nope… I left mad at God, mad at my life realities and mad at everyone else who seemed to have it figured out.

I was mostly mad that I knew the topic was no longer avoidable. I had declared fairly loudly in conversation with other people from my church (one of whom was a pastor) that I was totally incapable of honouring a Biblical command.

They were all much more gracious about it than I was. I’m always harder on myself than anyone else can be. I couldn’t let this one rest. (Ironic, when the whole thing was about rest to begin with…)

I started to go after it myself – this whole sabbath thing. And, the past year has been filled with more than a couple more raised voice conversations, research, reading, experimenting and increased attempts at making Sabbath a reality in my otherwise overloaded kind of life.

Seeking Sabbath. It’s my story and my song this season. As I unpack some of the things I’m learning and discovering. I’d love to hear how you honour the Sabbath in your life too. Leave a comment about what the Sabbath looks like for you, what works, what you struggle with. Oh, and if it all just makes you mad, feel free to vent a bit – sometimes we need to let go of the sweet Sunday tones and go ALL CAPS. I get it!